TOTTENHAM have no interest in letting Barcelona target Giovani Lo Celso go in January – and certainly not on loan.
Barca boss Xavi would like to sign Argentina star Lo Celso after losing midfielder Gavi to a long-term injury.
But Spurs have their own headache in the middle of the park with Rodrigo Bentancur out until February, while Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr go to the African Cup of Nations next month.
The North Londoners would only be tempted to sell Lo Celso – who has 18 months left on his contract – if they receive an offer they cannot turn down.
That is because, because of their absentees in that position, they would have to replace him instantly and would need the funds to do that.
Spurs therefore see loaning him out as not an option.
READ MORE TRANSFER NEWS
Barcelona are not flush with cash so it is unlikely they will be able to put together a financial package tempting enough to Tottenham next month.
Lo Celso’s time at Spurs looked over under Antonio Conte but Ange Postecoglou has brought the 27-year-old back into the fold.
The £55million man has stepped up while James Maddison has been sidelined through injury and scored against Aston Villa and Manchester City recently.
This term he has made six appearances and started in three games since Maddison has been absent.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
He did not start in Sunday’s 4-1 win over Newcastle but is understood to be content with life at Spurs and is not pushing for an exit.
After spending a season on loan at the North London club in the 2019-20 term while at Real Betis he signed for Spurs on a permanent contract in January 2020.
The midfielder has since made 53 appearances and was a part of the Tottenham squad that went to the EFL Cup final against Man City in 2021.
At the beginning of 2022, Lo Celso joined La Liga club Villarreal on loan until the end of the 2021–22 season.
And then in the summer of that year, he rejoined the Spanish side on loan another term.
Now back in full force at Spurs, his contract is set to expire in the summer of 2025.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
