‘Risky bet’ – Club warned over making approach for Tottenham player in January
Gavi, a star player for Barcelona, will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a serious knee injury playing for Spain. Due to this, the Catalan team has been linked to several midfielders, notably Giovani Lo Celso of Tottenham Hotspur.
According to Mundo Deportivo on Thursday, Xavi Hernández, the manager of the La Liga team, and the 27-year-old are their top priorities. Additionally, a ‘green light’ for a possible deal was reportedly given in January.
According to Friday’s AS, the Tottenham player is liked and his profile is highly valued by the Barcelona coach.
Additionally, the newspaper has warned the Blaugrana not to approach Lo Celso in the winter market.
The Argentina international is described as a “risky bet” because of his history of injuries and questions about his fitness. The former Real Betis player has missed 315 days of action since the 2019–20 season began because of various injuries.
Last season, while on loan at Villarreal, he suffered a muscular injury that kept him out of action for nearly 50 days and prevented him from playing for La Albiceleste at the World Cup.
Due to these injuries, his market value has decreased; according to AS, it was €50 million [in 2019] and is currently only €14 million.
He has only played 83 minutes in four games for Tottenham this season, and a hamstring injury kept him out of the lineup in September.
In light of all of this, the report concludes that it would be “risky” for Barca to contemplate Lo Celso as a Gavi replacement.
The Spanish powerhouses have hinted that securing a new midfield player in the winter transfer window would require them to raise an additional €40 million via a different “lever.”
Barca will be able to better assess their financial situation and decide whether to approach Lo Celso.
