Sport Witness

On Friday, Tottenham Hotspur confirmed that they have reached an agreement with Real Betis for the transfer of Giovani Lo Celso.

Real Betis president Ángel Haro García had a chat with the local reporters, relayed by Diario de Sevilla. He revealed the 28-year-old could arrive in Spain today, to complete the transfer from Tottenham to the La Liga side.

The Argentina international will carry out the medical tests with Real Betis in the next few hours. He will then join the national team for the upcoming international break.

“Yes, the idea is that he will probably travel tomorrow [Saturday], although he also has a commitment with the national team, he will have to leave again with his national team, but well, we can enjoy a bit of time,” he said.

The La Liga side were in the market for a new midfielder, after Nabil Fekir decided to leave them from UAE based side Al Jazira. The president claims his side had a “great challenge” to replace the Frenchman.

Real Betis identified Lo Celso and Real Madrid’s Dani Ceballos as the main targets, before deciding to bet on the South American.

When the reporters quizzed the president whether the former Arsenal man was on an option, he revealed why his side decided to sign Lo Celso.

“Well, we had two or three top options open, for us these options were the ones you are talking about as a very good option, and then we finally opted for Gio,” Ángel Haro García explained.

“Well, they are options that open, each market has its particularity, in this case it seemed that a window was opening, but as I said, we also had another window and other open players.”

“I would like to talk about the players we have, the issue of Dani could have been a possibility, but I am very satisfied with Gio, a great player, we already know him at the club and we have to focus on giving him love and he surely gives us great joy.”

Spurs initially took Lo Celso on loan from Real Betis in 2019 and made his stay permanent in January 2020. The midfielder scored 10 goals and registered eight assists from 108 games for Tottenham.

Both Marca and ABC Sevilla are reporting Tottenham and Real Betis have come to an agreement for the transfer of Giovani Lo Celso.

The Seville club have long wanted to take the player back but developments this week, the failure to get Dani Ceballos from Real Madrid and seeing Nabil Fekir leaving, have meant a serious step forward for the Argentina international.

Marca report the two clubs are ‘currently finalising an agreement’. They state Betis advanced talks by offering €5m for 50% of Lo Celso (so Spurs would get 50% of a future sale), and future rights on Johnny Cardoso.

They believe that would see Tottenham being able to get him at a set price or receive a percentage if he went elsewhere, but the details from Marca are sketchy on that.

Over at ABC Sevilla they say there’s an ‘agreement in principle’ for Lo Celso to return to Betis for €5m, plus a preferential right on a future transfer of Cardoso.

Whilst the deal isn’t completed, it’s insisted there’s confidence at Betis that it will be.

On Thursday, we covered claims from Spain which stated Real Betis only wanted to sign Giovani Lo Celso from Tottenham if he was available on a free transfer.

Presumably, they wanted to Spurs to cancel the final months of his contract, sort out any financial issues between the two parties, and then send him to Seville as a free agent.

Marca now have it slightly differently, which may be related to a failed move for Dani Ceballos. Betis had been trying to sign the Real Madrid midfielder but any hope of a transfer fell apart in the final days of the window.

Therefore, it’s stated Betis have made a €6m offer to Tottenham for Lo Celso. They’re currently awaiting a response from Spurs regarding that offer.

PSV Eindhoven’s Olivier Boscagli could get a move to a club like Tottenham Hotspur if he were to give up on Brighton & Hove Albion today.

That’s at least what Voetbal Primeur journalist Dennie van Laar claims, and his quotes are relayed by PSV Fans.

Van Laar believes the likes of Tottenham, Napoli and Atlético Madrid could come forward to sign him in 2025. Therefore, he should snub Brighton and continue at the Eredivisie side.

The centre-back has less than a year left on his contract. Earlier claims have stated he absolutely wants to join Brighton before the window closes later today, but PSV rejected their €10m bid.

On Thursday, Eindhovens Dagblad reported the Seagulls would make an improved bid to sign the 26-year-old, but PSV have decided not to let him leave in this window. Van Laar insists Tottenham could be one of the options, if he were to be available on a free transfer in 2025.

“But he can also just wait, because you will soon be a free agent. Then you really laugh your head off. You can then sign for Napoli, Atlético Madrid or Spurs. I’m really convinced of that,” he said.

“If he stays fit now, he will sign with a big bag of signing money [signing on bonus] at a dream club next year with a smile. I wouldn’t go completely crazy about Brighton.”

It’s to be noted there hasn’t been any concrete claims yet of Tottenham showing interest in the Brighton target. Van Laar is suggesting that Boscagli could join Spurs or two other clubs next summer, if he decides to continue at PSV this season.

Real Betis are continuing to try and get Giovanni Lo Celso from Tottenham, but Spurs are refusing to budge and remaining ‘tough’ in negotiations.

That’s according to Mucho Deporte and ABC Sevilla, who report that Tottenham won’t move on the Argentine and wouldn’t mind keeping him.

ABC report that Betis are currently doing two parallel operations for Dani Ceballos and Lo Celso as they look to add a midfielder on deadline day.

Both are proving to be difficult to deal with, though, despite neither player being considered key players.

Tottenham have asked for €15m for their man, despite the fact he is in the final year of his deal. They’ve turned down an offer from Betis to take over a percentage of the player’s rights.

Lo Celso is ‘seduced’ by the idea of a return to his former club, but Tottenham want to recover some of the €48m they paid to sign him. Betis are planning to make an effort again today. Similarly, Lo Celso is putting pressure on to try and make a move happen.

Mucho Deporte report similar, stating that Lo Celso is ‘delighted and crazy’ to return to his former club, but Tottenham remain ‘tough’.

They aren’t desperate for the money from a sale and would even mind keeping Lo Celso despite the fact he has a year left on his deal.

They won’t drop below their €15m asking price and that’s a problem for Betis, who simply cannot afford that price.

They’re still working on it, hoping to find an agreement somehow, but there’s not much optimism in Seville that it will happen.

Estadio Deportivo report Real Betis will only sign Giovani Lo Celso from Tottenham Hotspur if Spurs let him move as a free agent.

The Argentina international has less than a year left on his contract with the Premier League and is very much out of Ange Postecoglou’s plans. Claims earlier this week said Lo Celso felt the manager didn’t keep to his word last season when it came to chances given, and there’s been communication problems this summer too.

Real Betis and Aston Villa would only sign Lo Celso if he’s a free agent, and Tottenham are apparently refusing to make that happen. They obviously believe there’s still the chance of getting a transfer fee.

Regardless of that, it’s made clear the player ‘doesn’t want to go to Birmingham’, despite the best efforts of Unai Emery and Monchi at Aston Villa.

That’s nothing against Aston Villa specifically, Lo Celso wants to leave English football entirely, clearly a little bruised by his difficult period at Tottenham.

Estadio Deportivo report Real Betis will only sign Giovani Lo Celso from Tottenham Hotspur if Spurs let him move as a free agent.

The Argentina international has less than a year left on his contract with the Premier League and is very much out of Ange Postecoglou’s plans. Claims earlier this week said Lo Celso felt the manager didn’t keep to his word last season when it came to chances given, and there’s been communication problems this summer too.

Real Betis and Aston Villa would only sign Lo Celso if he’s a free agent, and Tottenham are apparently refusing to make that happen. They obviously believe there’s still the chance of getting a transfer fee.

Regardless of that, it’s made clear the player ‘doesn’t want to go to Birmingham’, despite the best efforts of Unai Emery and Monchi at Aston Villa.

That’s nothing against Aston Villa specifically, Lo Celso wants to leave English football entirely, clearly a little bruised by his difficult period at Tottenham.

There’s a claim in the Turkish press that Besiktas have stepped up their pursuit of Tottenham Hotspur defender Sergio Reguilon.

The Spaniard has been told he can leave the Premier League side this summer and has been linked with a move to the Super Lig in recent weeks.

Spor Sayfa today reports on the latest developments regarding Besiktas’ instance that they bring in a left back during this transfer window. It’s claimed Reguilon is still on the radar of the Black Eagles and they’ve intensified their contacts with the player.

Reguilon looks surplus to requirements at Tottenham and along with Besiktas he’s also been linked with a move to Galatasaray this month.

There have been reports of a possible return to La Liga, with Sevilla and Barcelona said to be monitoring his situation with Spurs.

The defender spent last season on loan at Manchester United and Brentford after finding himself frozen out at Tottenham. Reguilon is contracted to the north London club until June 2025.

Turkey’s transfer window runs until September 13th.

On Wednesday, Estadio Deportivo reported Giovani Lo Celso wants to leave Tottenham Hotspur, after a total disagreement with those in charge at the north London club.

Marca presents Real Betis as an option for the Tottenham player as Nabil Fekir is set to join Al-Jazira for €6m.

Fekir currently earns €4m net per year and his exit will help the La Liga side lower their wage bill. Real Betis have identified the 28-year-old and Real Madrid’s Dani Ceballos as targets.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side are carrying out ‘double negotiations’ for Lo Celso and Ceballos. They will try to sign the Spaniard, even though their initial proposal hasn’t convinced Los Blancos.

Real Betis, in parallel, are ‘pushing’ to sign the Argentina international. He’s mainly seen as an alternative to Ceballos, but it’s possible for both to arrive, if the Andalusian club were to offload a few more players.

Over at AS, they state a deal for the Tottenham man is ‘more feasible’ than the Spaniard. Ceballos has three years left on his contract and Real Madrid want at least €20m to let him go. Real Betis won’t be able to meet their request even with Fekir’s sale.

Lo Celso, on the other hand, is in his final year of contract. In addition to this, he’s not part of Ange Postecoglou’s plans this season. This makes it ‘much easier’ for Real Betis to sign him over the Real Madrid midfielder.

Mucho Deporte also report the South American is not included in Spurs’ plans. This makes his arrival at Real Betis ‘more viable’, and they have already held talks with Lo Celso.

If Pellegrini’s side were to sign only one, they have to make a final choice soon between Lo Celso and Ceballos.

On Wednesday, Estadio Deportivo reported Giovani Lo Celso wants to leave Tottenham Hotspur, after a total disagreement with those in charge at the north London club.

Marca presents Real Betis as an option for the Tottenham player as Nabil Fekir is set to join Al-Jazira for €6m.

Fekir currently earns €4m net per year and his exit will help the La Liga side lower their wage bill. Real Betis have identified the 28-year-old and Real Madrid’s Dani Ceballos as targets.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side are carrying out ‘double negotiations’ for Lo Celso and Ceballos. They will try to sign the Spaniard, even though their initial proposal hasn’t convinced Los Blancos.

Real Betis, in parallel, are ‘pushing’ to sign the Argentina international. He’s mainly seen as an alternative to Ceballos, but it’s possible for both to arrive, if the Andalusian club were to offload a few more players.

Over at AS, they state a deal for the Tottenham man is ‘more feasible’ than the Spaniard. Ceballos has three years left on his contract and Real Madrid want at least €20m to let him go. Real Betis won’t be able to meet their request even with Fekir’s sale.

Lo Celso, on the other hand, is in his final year of contract. In addition to this, he’s not part of Ange Postecoglou’s plans this season. This makes it ‘much easier’ for Real Betis to sign him over the Real Madrid midfielder.

Mucho Deporte also report the South American is not included in Spurs’ plans. This makes his arrival at Real Betis ‘more viable’, and they have already held talks with Lo Celso.

If Pellegrini’s side were to sign only one, they have to make a final choice soon between Lo Celso and Ceballos.