Manager set for disappointment over deal for Tottenham player – Spurs ‘don’t agree to negotiate’ January exit
For the winter transfer window, Barcelona manager Xavi Hernández has his sights set on Giovani Lo Celso of Tottenham Hotspur.
That’s according to Sport, who report that the boss “was clear” that the 27-year-old can assist the La Liga team in taking Gavi’s place, who will be sidelined for an extended period of time due to a terrible injury.
It is said that Xavi has long observed the Tottenham player and is an admirer of him.
If the 27-year-old were to join the Catalan team instead of Spurs, Xavi thinks he and Robert Lewandowski might develop a strong rapport. Lo Celso is “one of the best” available for the striker’s need for assistance, according to Sport.
A possible January settlement is challenging for two reasons. The first is Barcelona’s pay cap, which will only allow them to sign Vitor Roque the following month.
The second factor is Tottenham’s position.
According to reports, the Argentina international’s contract expires in 2025, and Spurs “don’t agree to negotiate” his departure in January.
Since the previous international break, Lo Celso has netted two goals in five games, demonstrating how Ange Postecoglou depends on him at Tottenham.
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Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are unlikely to make a move for Marc Guehi in January
For the January transfer window, it is anticipated that neither Manchester United nor Tottenham Hotspur will attempt to acquire Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.
It is currently anticipated that the 23-year-old defender will remain with the Eagles through at least the summer, according to reliable sources who have told Footballinsider that a deal is “impossible.”
The team has been leaking goals like a sieve due to defensive problems that have plagued United all season long due to chronic injuries and bad play.
The team’s recent 3-0 loss to Bournemouth is one instance of how this serious vulnerability was ruthlessly exposed.
Due to what appears to be a falling out between Erik ten Hag and Raphael Varane, the World Cup-winning defender has also fallen in the hierarchy, and it is now more likely than not that the Frenchman will leave Old Trafford.
As a result, center backs like Jean-Clair Todibo and Gonzalo Inacio have been strongly associated with the Old Trafford club.
But Marc Guehi is another name that just won’t go away.
According to The Peoples Person, United has made the English defender their “number one target” in an attempt to strengthen their defense. By the end of the season, the defender is also thought to be amenable to such a move.
The Red Devils were reportedly willing to pay up to £45 million to recruit the former Chelsea player, with the south London team valuing Guehi at £60 million.
The Palace defender has had an incredible season thus far, solidifying his place in the running to start for England at the Euros in France this summer. He has undoubtedly experienced a meteoric ascent.
The defender has played in 17 games for Palace this year and has established himself as a key member of the defense. The center back has made nine appearances for his nation since making his Three Lions debut in March 2022, and if he keeps up his good play, he should be able to hold onto his spot. All data sourced from transfermarkt.com
It looks that United might be busier in January than initially anticipated, even though a January move seems improbable. By saying the team was not likely to make significant acquisitions, Ten Hag doused the notion of a bustling window.
However, transfer guru Fabricio Romano asserted that Ten Hag stated he doesn’t anticipate any movement during the January transfer window in an interview with United We Stand. All I can say is that this is a bit of a “lie.” Naturally, I say that in a positive rather than a negative context.
Guehi may seem like an unlikely addition to the winter market, but the club is definitely giving conflicting signals about how active they will be. United supporters will have to wait and see what kind of impact the young English talent can have in June at the Euros, as well as whether he is a real target.