27-year-old Tottenham star performs transfer U-turn amid Barcelona interest

Tottenham Hotspur star Giovani Lo Celso wants to stay in North London this January as Barcelona transfer encircle

According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Giovani Lo Celso has now made the choice to stay with his parent club and work towards securing his place in Ange Postecoglou’s squad.

The Argentine star is determined to achieve success with Spurs. The 27-year-old had a promising pre-season under Postecoglou, which played a key role in his decision to stay at Tottenham beyond the summer.

However, despite his active involvement in pre-season, where he scored against West Ham United and Lion City, the South American talent has struggled to secure a spot in the team’s midfield.

During the current season, Lo Celso has only managed to accumulate 16 minutes of playing time in the Premier League, making a late appearance as a substitute against Bournemouth in August.

Manager Postecoglou did grant the midfielder a start in their EFL Cup match against Fulham last month, but he was substituted at half-time.

The experienced player sustained an injury during the game at Craven Cottage and hasn’t played since.

TuttoMercatoWeb initially stated that Tottenham are open to selling him in January, with clubs like Barcelona and Real Betis showing concrete interest in their prized asset. Xavi’s side were likely the front-runners in this race.

However, Deportivo has now suggested that Lo Celso is interested in staying at his present club beyond the upcoming winter transfer window.

The player wants to fight for his place and has no intentions of leaving in January. It’s mentioned that Postecoglou has expressed his confidence in the Argentine star and desires to keep him in the squad.

Lo Celso aims to earn his place in the Tottenham team and showcase his abilities in the Premier League following his return from injury.

His pre-season performances have been a positive point to stress, but his ability to maintain fitness and readiness for selection will be a key factor in his quest to establish himself in the club.

He could be used in games where the club needs to rest James Maddison, hence making him a valuable backup option. New signing Brennan Johnson can also operate in this role, making it a tightly matched contest.

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However, it also remains to be seen whether Barcelona’s interest continues to persist if the player earns his place in Postecoglou’s plans, considering the fact that the Spanish giants have financial issues to deal with.