TOTTENHAM can save £7million by making Giovani Lo Celso’s transfer permanent in January.
The Argentine midfielder, 23, joined Spurs on a season-long loan from Real Betis in the summer.
There is a mandatory clause in the deal which says that Spurs must sign Lo Celso permanently at the end of the campaign should they qualify for the Champions League.
After an initial £15m loan fee, he would cost the North Londoners £34m next summer – but Real Betis vice-chairman Jose Catalan revealed there is a cheaper option for Spurs.
He told ABC de Sevilla: “The purchase option [for Lo Celso] can be exercised by this January market.
“They would have to pay €32m (£27m).
“In June [a €40m permanent deal] is mandatory if they get into the Champions League, and voluntary if not.
“They will have to make the decision whether they buy or not.”
Things have not quite gone to plan so far for the Argentine since arriving under compatriot Mauricio Pochettino on deadline day.
Seen as a long-term successor to wantaway man Christian Eriksen, he has featured just nine times in all competitions but missed more than seven weeks of action due to a hip injury sustained on international duty in early September.
Lo Celso’s only goal for the club so far came on November 6 when he bagged in the 4-0 win away at Red Star Belgrade.
After an almighty goalmouth scramble, the playmaker finally turned the ball in to open the scoring in Serbia.
Jose Mourinho left him on the bench in his first two games in charge – the wins over West Ham and Olympiakos – but brought him on for the final two minutes against Bournemouth on Saturday.
With Dele Alli back in red-hot form under the new manager and Spurs currently outside of the top four, Lo Celso has plenty to do if he is going to convince Daniel Levy to stump up the cash to complete the permanent transfer in the New Year.
