Transfer Centre

Tottenham Hotspur 'preparing improved Giovani Lo Celso bid'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 13 June 2019

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly preparing an improved offer for Giovani Lo Celso after seeing their first bid of £53m rejected by Real Betis.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly preparing an improved offer for Real Betis midfielder Giovani Lo Celso after seeing their first approach turned down.

The Champions League finalists are understood to have submitted a bid of around £53m for the Argentina international, only to see that rejected by Betis.

The Spanish outfit are reportedly holding out for Lo Celso's full £88.9m release clause after seeing him score 16 goals and create six more across all competitions last season.

Spurs are reluctant to match that figure, but The Mirror claims that they are readying a second offer having identified Lo Celso as one of their main transfer targets this summer.

Betis could hold out on any deal until after the Copa America in the hope that Lo Celso's performances for Argentina create more interest in his services.

Spurs currently lead the race for his signature, though, and have turned down the opportunity to sign Sevilla's Pablo Sarabia or Paris Saint-Germain attacker Julian Draxler instead.

Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes is still regarded as an alternative target, with Mauricio Pochettino's side lining up possible replacements for Christian Eriksen.