Real Betis lead Barcelona in pursuit of €14 million-rated Tottenham playmaker – report

As the speculative days of the transfer window draw to a close, Barcelona remain interested in a number of players on the market.

One of the players that was said to be on the Catalans’ radar was Tottenham Hotspur star Giovani Lo Celso, who was sought after on a loan deal

Owing to his creativity in the middle of the park and his ability to thread immaculate final balls, the playmaker had emerged as an option for Xavi, as an alternative for Bernardo Silva.

Real Betis leading the race for Lo Celso

Now, Fichajes has come out to report that Real Betis have taken the lead in Lo Celso’s signing.

As per the report, Lo Celso, whose market value stands at €14 million, is adamant about his desire to rejoin the ranks of Betis, the team where he made a lasting impression early in his career.

Reports state that Tottenham and Betis are looking into the possibilities of a deal that may result in a loan or perhaps a permanent move, ruling out the idea of moving to Barcelona, who also showcased a great interest in the Argentine star.

After the Bernardo Silva operation fell flat, consensus regarding Lo Celso’s potential signing began to grow, with the player deemed capable of adding a different dimension to the Blaugrana midfield.

However, everything points to him playing for Manuel Pellegrini’s team in the new campaign.

One of the driving factors behind the possible deal is Lo Celso’s desire to don the Betis shirt once more, having enjoyed fond memories with the Spanish side previously.

Betis are actively working to persuade the player and Tottenham that this is the best option for all parties involved.

With the option of signing the Copa America winner looking unfeasible now, Barcelona may be tempted to speed up their pursuit of Joao Felix.

Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on date of publication.