We are in the January transfer window and Tottenham Hotspur have a decision to make – do they retain Giovani Lo Celso or do they cash in on him?
It has been a very frustrating few months with respect to Giovani Lo Celso. From starting off the pre-season on an exceptional note, the emergence of James Maddison meant he hardly got any game time and looked certain to leave in January.
Then, Maddison got injured. Tottenham needed a creative replacement who can help ensure we don’t feel the loss of the former Leicester City man. It was widely expected that the former Villarreal man would fill in the void left by Maddison.
However, things did not transpire as one would expect. Ange Postecoglou came up with a tactical innovation. He decided to play Dejan Kulusevski as his #10. It must be said that the Swede seems to have made that position his own.
Ange reimagined Lo Celso in a different role though. He decided to play him as a number six following Yves Bissouma’s suspension and Pape Matar Sarr’s injury. The Argentine playmaker really thrived in that role, starting off with two goals in his first two starts.
Once Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma returned though, Lo Celso was resigned to a bench role yet again. Hi substitute appearances though have always been decent if not spectacular.
So, what should Postecoglou do? With less than 18 months left on the playmaker’s contract, should he decide to keep him in the squad or decide to cash in on him right now?
The James Maddison conundrum
At least one thing is clear now, it is difficult for James Maddison and Giovani Lo Celso to play in the same team. At least, in Ange Postecoglou’s mind, that’s how he seems to see it.
Maddison is set to return to action really soon. With him definitely reclaiming his #10 role, Dejan Kulusevski would move to the right wing. The victim in this would definitely be Giovani Lo Celso again.
To be fair to the Argentine here, he has hardly put a foot wrong in the chances that he has been given so far. Is that enough to warrant him a place in the squad though?
A lot of angles need to be taken into consideration here. Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma are going to miss the next month and a half as they will be representing their respective nations at the AFCON.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is not Ange Postecoglou’s preferred choice in midfield. He has been linked with an exit for quite some time now. Rodrigo Bentancur has hardly played since last February due to unfortunate injuries. That leaves the Australian tactician with just Oliver Skipp.
What should Tottenham do?
We don’t know what Tottenham are going to do. We would like to suggest what Tottenham and Ange Postecoglou must do and how they must handle the Giovani Lo Celso situation.
If James Maddison stays fit, the Argentine does not have any chance at the #10 role. Even if the Tottenham vice-captain is absent due to some reason, Dejan Kulusevski should seamlessly slot in.
However, if Lo Celso can reinvent himself in the number six/eight role, he could play a big role for Spurs until Bissouma and Sarr return. If he’s fit, Rodrigo Bentancur is a sure starter.
Between Oliver Skipp, Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg and Giovani Lo Celso, if Postecoglou had to choose one name, the latter might indeed get the nod considering how things have played out so far this season.
Spurs must hold on to Giovani Lo Celso for the time-being. They can revisit the situation again in the summer if they want to. All this is being said though assuming Spurs don’t bring a new midfielder this window. If the club does sign someone though, letting the Argentine go might not be such a bad thing. Let’s wait and see how this situation pans out.
