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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Nizaar Kinsella and Simon Collings

Tottenham stance on Giovani Lo Celso clear as Barcelona seek Gavi replacement

Tottenham will reject any approach from Barcelona for Giovani Lo Celso in January.

Barcelona have identified Lo Celso as a loan target after losing midfielder Gavi to a serious knee injury.

But Spurs have ruled out a January exit for Lo Celso, who is likely to have an increased role now James Maddison has been ruled out until at least January with an ankle injury.

The Argentina international has made just three substitute appearances in the Premier League this season and his only start came in the Carabao Cup defeat at Fulham.

Barcelona were interested in a summer move for Lo Celso and their manager Xavi is an admirer of the 27-year-old, who is also of interest to Real Betis and Atletico Madrid.

The Catalan club are considering their transfer options for January after Gavi suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury playing for Spain on Sunday.

Spurs themselves have been hit by a spate of injuries, while they will also lose midfielders Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr to the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

Giovani Lo Celso will have to step up for Spurs after the injury to James Maddison (Getty Images)

Lo Celso has struggled to fully establish himself at Spurs since his £55million move from Real Betis in 2019, but is set to play a key role in the squad in the coming months.

Bissouma and Cristian Romero are suspended for Sunday’s home game against Aston Villa, while Micky van de Ven is also sidelined until next year.

Left-back Destiny Udogie withdrew from the Italy squad with a muscle injury.

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