Real Madrid and Barcelona are reportedly keen to sign Real Betis midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, who is currently on a season-long loan from PSG.
According to Spanish publication El Confidencial, Real Madrid and Barcelona are keeping close tabs on Giovani Lo Celso. The player is currently on a season-long loan at Real Betis from PSG and has managed to capture the attention of the two heavyweights with the season he is having currently at Betis.
Giovani Lo Celso was snapped up by PSG in 2016 and after spending six months back on loan in Argentina, the young midfielder arrived in France and managed to create room for himself in the first-team setup at Parc des Princes, despite the plethora of options available.
In fact, it came as a surprise when Lo Celso was allowed to leave on loan for the entire season to Real Betis, with a buy option also embedded in the loan deal. Needless to say, Lo Celso has impressed in his debut La Liga season, pulling all strings in the middle of the park for Real Betis.
Giovanni Lo Celso has scored 10 goals across all competitions for the first time in his career.
Loving life at Real Betis. pic.twitter.com/v0P7mb1S7s
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 14, 2019
12 goals and 4 assists already this season, the 22-year-old has managed to capture the attention of two of Spain’s and the footballing world’s biggest clubs – Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Barcelona were rumoured to be looking at Lo Celso in and around the time of the World Cup as well. The El Confidencial report states that the Catalan giants are looking to further strengthen their options in midfield and are aware of Real Betis’ interest in their academy star Juan Miranda.
The Catalans are looking to include Miranda in a deal to incentivise the transfer of Lo Celso.
Real Madrid also have a player Real Betis are said to be interested in, as per the report. Mariano Diaz has not really been setting the stage alight upon his return to the Bernabeu and could relish the chance of becoming a starter for Real Betis, who are also competing in Europe.
For Real, their midfield poses a problem. Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are ageing and could be phased out slowly by the club. But, the likes of Dani Ceballos have failed to inspire much confidence in their ability to take over when the time comes. Thus, Lo Celso, who has already shown he can cut it at the top level at PSG and in La Liga with Real Betis, could be an ideal recruit.
Both the clubs are ready to wait for Real Betis to exercise their option to buy the player first. Real Betis were already intent on signing the player, according to the report. The prospect of perhaps, making a profit and getting one of their targets in the summer could bolster that intent.
Lo Celso is tearing it up at Real Betis and chances are he will continue to strut his stuff in La Liga beyond the summer, be it at Real Betis, Barcelona or Real Madrid.
