Tottenham’s £8.5m Midfield Mistake: Lo Celso Outshining Bergvall

Tottenham Hotspur’s 2024/25 season hangs in the balance, with their Premier League aspirations fading and Europa League success now crucial. While young midfielder Lucas Bergvall has shown promise since his £8.5m January move, Spurs may regret selling Giovani Lo Celso for the same fee last summer.

Lo Celso struggled to make a consistent impact during his time in North London, but his performances for Real Betis this season suggest Tottenham sold him too cheaply. The 28-year-old Argentine is enjoying a renaissance in La Liga, outperforming many of Spurs’ current midfield options including Bergvall.

Comparing Lo Celso’s stats from his final Premier League season to his current La Liga campaign shows marked improvement across the board:

• Goals: 2 to 7
• Touches per game: 28 to 57.7
• Key passes per game: 0.8 to 1.7
• Ball recoveries per game: 2.1 to 3.3

Lo Celso now ranks among Europe’s top midfielders for progressive passes, tackles, and shot-creating actions. His playmaking ability and defensive work rate could have provided valuable depth and quality to Tottenham’s injury-hit squad this season.

While Bergvall remains an exciting prospect at just 19 years old, Lo Celso’s experience and current form suggest he could have made a significant impact for Spurs this term. Manager Ange Postecoglou may rue the decision to let the “master of the last pass” leave for such a modest fee.

As Tottenham push for Europa League glory to salvage their season, the wisdom of allowing Lo Celso to depart so cheaply will likely be questioned. His resurgence at Betis serves as a reminder of the fine margins in football transfers and squad building.