Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly eyeing a summer swoop for Pau Torres and are willing to include Giovani Lo Celso in the deal.
According to Sky Italia, Tottenham Hotspur have devised a plan to sign Pau Torres this summer. The Villarreal starlet has emerged as one of the top defensive targets for Antonio Conte as he looks to shore up his options at the back, ahead of the new season.
Spurs are aware negotiations with Villarreal for Torres could be difficult as the Spanish international is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in La Liga. But in an attempt to sweeten the deal, Tottenham are willing to include Giovani Lo Celso, who recently enjoyed a rather promising loan spell at Villarreal this past season.
Lo Celso had initially joined Villarreal on a short-term loan deal at the start of the year after failing to gain prominence in the Tottenham first team. Despite failing to register a single goal or assist, the 26-year-old Argentine midfielder offered creativity and technical prowess in the middle of the park, notably helping Villarreal reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Lo Celso, though, is still not included in Antonio Conte’s plans as the Tottenham boss does not rate him highly. The Italian tactician is, instead, searching the market for other alternatives and has targeted a move for Juventus starlet Weston McKennie.
Villarreal, on the other hand, have appeared quite keen on acquiring the services of Lo Celso on a permanent. They are already locked in advanced negotiations with the Argentine international, with Tottenham now looking to make the most out of the sale by including him in the deal to sign Torres.
The Spanish international is rated highly by Conte and could be an ideal defensive partner for Cristian Romero in the coming season. The technical prowess provided by the two centre-backs, coupled with his athleticism and game-reading abilities could add a new dimension to Tottenham’s defensive line.
As per previous reports, Tottenham value Lo Celso at around €20 million, so the 26-year-old midfielder’s inclusion in the deal could help the Lilywhites significantly lower the cost of the Torres operation. However, with Manchester United also involved in the equation, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for the Spaniard in the coming weeks.
