Tottenham (Image: Tottenham lost 3-2 to Bayern Munich despite scoring in the first minute)
Tottenham Hotspur appeared to drop a hint about Giovani Lo Celso’s future after he was left out of the 26-man squad that faced Bayern Munich on Saturday night.
Spurs welcomed Harry Kane and Eric Dier back to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in their final pre-season friendly before the 2024-25 Premier League season. It was a rematch after the two teams played in South Korea last weekend, with Bayern winning 2-1.
The German giants were again the winners in the second showdown despite Dejan Kulusevski firing the hosts in front after just 24 seconds. Goals from Dayout Upamecano, Serge Gnabry and Thomas Muller had Bayern 3-1 up at half-time.
Kulusevski scored again to make it 3-2 on the hour mark but Ange Postecoglou’s team were unable to muster a late equaliser.
Yet despite having a 15-player bench against Bayern, with Ange Postecoglou bringing 10 of those players on for minutes, South American playmaker Lo Celso was absent.
He returned to training earlier in the week after helping Argentina win Copa America. It was expected the 28-year-old would play a part against Bayern but that he didn’t hints he may be headed for the exit door.
There haven’t been many links involving Lo Celso, whose contract expires in 2025, but the north Londoners are looking to trim down the squad and raise cash for some more incomings this summer which appears to put him on the chopping block.
Giovani Lo Celso helped Argentina win the Copa America this summer (Image: GETTY)
If he leaves, the man signed from Real Betis for £55million in 2019 will depart having made 108 appearances for Spurs, delivering 10 goals and eight assists.
He earned just 597 minutes under Postecoglou last term when he was mainly utilised as a substitute. Only four of his 22 appearances were starts and he was hit by injuries.
Tottenham meanwhile presented Dominic Solanke to supporters on Saturday after the striker completed an initial £55million move – which could rise to £65m – from Bournemouth.
Postecoglou and co. are also showing interest in Crystal Palace’s £60m-rated forward Eberechi Eze as they plot to sign a winger and would like to sign a back-up left-back.
Djed Spence was forced to start out of position on the left side of defence against Bayern. Destiny Udogie came off the bench to play 38 minutes after recovering from injury.
Dominic Solanke was presented to the Tottenham fans against Bayern Munich (Image: PA)
Fellow defender Emerson Royal is soon expected to join AC Milan for just shy of £13m. Oliver Skipp is another who could leave at the right price but is a valuable asset given he is homegrown.
Postecoglou said pre-match that Skipp’s future is effectively in his own hands. “Depending on the individual players, they’ve got a career that they have to manage themselves,” he said.
“Whether they think that this is the right place to keep progressing. I’ve always respected that a lot of those decisions also come down to them.” Winger Manor Solomon and Dane Scarlett (on loan) are two others who may depart.
Tottenham’s 2024-25 Premier League season starts against Leicester a week on Monday (8pm) with Spurs eager to avoid an upset against the newly-promoted Foxes.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1934592/Tottenham-transfer-hint-Bayern-Munich