AC Milan could line up a January move for Real Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso

It took a while but Tottenham Hotspur were finally able to get Giovani Lo Celso out of the door in the past summer transfer window.

The Argentina international struggled to settle down in the Premier League and find his feet at the White Hart Lane. Opportunities few and far in between under Ange Postecoglou in the 2023/24 campaign, coupled with him not making the squad for the opening three Premier League games of this season, meant his time at N17 was all but over.

Giovani Lo Celso signed for Real Betis on transfer deadline day, returning to Benito Villamarin after four-and-a-half-seasons ago. Betis acquired the 2024 Copa America winner’s signature in a £8.4m transfer excluding add-ons, alongside handing Tottenham the first option to buy Johnny Cardoso in the summer of 2025.

During the talks for the Lo Celso deal, the La Liga side accepted an offer for Johnny Cardoso that can be triggered for a £21m fee. However, the Lilywhites have to exercise it during a two-week window in June 2025.

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According to a report from Italian outlet Calciomercato, Tottenham could risk losing out on Johnny Cardoso to AC Milan.

AC Milan have lost Ismael Bennacer for the rest of 2024 due to a calf injury, forcing them to scour the market for midfield reinforcements. Cardoso appeared on their transfer wishlist and it is believed that he was hoping for a call from the Serie A giants in the summer, but that didn’t come to fruition.

The USA international could emerge on Milan’s radar in the wake of Bennacer’s injury. The aforementioned report adds Milan have ‘every intention of initiating’ contacts with the Betis defensive midfielder.

Milan may have interest in Cardoso but Spurs have put themselves in a prime position to land the 22-year-old as part of the deal which saw them give the green light for Lo Celso to make a £3.3million switch to Betis on August 30. Due to the clause inserted while in talks for the Lo Celso deal, it clearly means Spurs can block the transfer in January if Milan come calling for his services.

Cardoso is a full USA international and performed well for Betis last season, where he racked up a goal and two assists in 17 La Liga appearances. Born in Brazil, he is a talented defensive midfielder who if he performs well through this season, could turn out to be a solid cover for Yves Bissouma at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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Spurs will continue monitoring Cardoso’s performances at Betis as they aim to discover the extent of his development over the next 12 months and measure whether they should trigger the option to bring him to North London ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.