Tottenham make ‘desperate plea’ to £27m Aston Villa and West Ham target

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has reassured midfielder Giovani Lo Celso of his importance at the club amid links with Aston Villa, West Ham United and teams abroad.

The transfer speculation just won’t go away for Lo Celso, who has struggled to make his mark for Spurs since joining the club permanently following an initial temporary switch.

Versatile and vastly experienced, the Argentina international had big expectations upon his arrival but has failed to make more than 18 Premier League appearances in a single season since his first.

Two loan moves to Villarreal have followed but even the Yellow Submarine were unable to help Lo Celso, who cost Tottenham £27.4 million in 2020, look anywhere near his best.

Villa and West Ham believe the talent is still there to be unleashed, however, as they have been heavily linked with the 27-year-old this summer. As have his former side, Betis.

But it appears Postecoglou holds Lo Celso in far higher regard than the previous Spurs head coaches as he seems desperate to keep the former Paris Saint-Germain man around.

Speaking after a goal for Lo Celso in the 5-1 pre-season win over Lion City Sailors in Singapore, Postecoglou joked: “You don’t have to go to Spain, mate.

“You can just ask me. Yeah, I like Gio. He fits the way we play. I enjoy working with him and he seems to enjoy working with us,” the Australian said via Evening Standard.

Despite a rocky road at Tottenham so far, the North London outfit are actually the club Lo Celso has made the most appearances for throughout his career.

It awaits to be seen exactly how the player feels about sticking with it at Spurs but it seems likely he will if Postecoglou’s comments are anything to go by.