Serie A giants Napoli have reportedly contacted Tottenham Hotspur regarding a move for 26-year-old midfielder Giovani Lo Celso this summer.
Napoli have emerged as a potential destination for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Giovani Lo Celso this summer. This is according to Alfredo Pedulla, who reports that the Partenopei have asked for information about the Argentine playmaker as they ponder making a loan move to bring him to Serie A following his successful spell at Villarreal last season.
Formerly of Real Betis, things have never quite worked out for Lo Celso at Tottenham since converting his initial loan deal into a permanent move in January 2020. The 26-year-old began last season with Spurs but was sent to Villarreal on loan in the January transfer window after failing to impress manager Antonio Conte.
The Argentine international quickly established himself as a key member of Unai Emery’s side, making 16 appearances in La Liga, scoring one goal and providing one assist in his short loan stint. It is also worth noting that Lo Celso was instrumental in their run to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
The Yellow Submarine are keen on a permanent reunion and have been locked in direct negotiations with the Lilywhites. But they do not have enough funds to meet Tottenham’s valuation, with Spurs aware that the Argentine’s stock is still high due to his stellar performances in the UEFA Champions League.
Lo Celso has no future at Tottenham and was even left out of their pre-season tour to South Korea and Israel. Spurs are hoping to recoup the majority of what they paid to sign the 26-year-old permanently from Real Betis, so he has been linked with moves elsewhere.
Fiorentina have been dragged into the mix lately, but those rumours have cooled down. Now, Serie A giants Napoli have entered the race to sign the Argentine international and have made contact with Tottenham over the feasibility of a deal, possibly to replace Piotr Zielinski.
The Partenopei are not particularly keen on losing Zielinski, but West Ham United are pushing for a major midfield addition, forcing the Serie A heavyweights to look for possible replacements. Lo Celso fits the profile and might even be an upgrade on Zielinski considering his younger age profile, versatility, and brilliant attacking qualities.
From the player’s perspective, a move to Napoli bodes well. If the Argentine midfielder impresses on the European stage, he will certainly travel to Qatar with La Albiceleste for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, as he has been a consistent part of Lionel Scaloni’s side of late. The Tottenham man is highly rated by the Serie A giants, who want some kind of loan arrangement with a purchase option, and a move looks like it is set to gather pace in the coming days.
