Tottenham Hotspur could end up sending Giovani Lo Celso back to Real Betis this month.

Sources have told Football FanCast that Spurs are chasing a deal for Bruno Fernandes of Sporting Lisbon and that any deal could result in the termination of the Argentina international’s short-term stay at the club.

Of course, it has been widely reported that Spurs do have the option to sign Lo Celso this month should they so wish and so one has to ask the question: Who would be better?

Obviously, one must preface this with the fact that Lo Celso hasn’t had that much time to make his mark on Spurs.

He has made a total of 17 appearances for the club, scoring two goals, in the 4-0 thumping of Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League, and the 2-1 FA Cup win over Middlesbrough.

In total, though, he has made just five starts and one has to wonder if he will ever get a proper chance under Jose Mourinho.

His statistics, nevertheless, are somewhat instructive.

In the Premier League, he has averaged 0.6 shots per game, 0.5 key passes, 0.4 dribbles and is fouled 1.3 times. Defensively, he makes 0.9 tackles, 0.2 interceptions, 0.4 fouls and is dribbled past once.

The big fat Tottenham quiz of 2019 - how much do you remember about the last year at Spurs?

His numbers are better in the Champions League, where he has made two starts, he averages 1.3 shots per game, 1 key pass, 0.3 dribbles and is fouled once. Defensively, he makes 2.3 tackles, 0.7 interceptions, 0.7 fouls and is dribbled past 2.3 times.

Bruno Fernandes, by comparison, is playing regularly.

He has scored 15 goals in all competitions and registered 13 assists. As he is Sporting’s captain, if he is available, he plays.

Offensively in Liga NOS, he averages 3.6 shots per game, 3.7 key passes, 1.7 dribbles and is fouled 2.5 times. He also makes an impressive 2.4 tackles per game, 0.2 interceptions, 1.5 fouls and is dribbled 1.2 times per game.

This is a player who is revelling in the role he has been given.

His statistics point to a player who is given licence to roam forward from the attacking midfield role he regularly occupies to support the striker.

One feels, then, that he and Lo Celso could well play together – the latter plays in a more withdrawn role than Fernandes but one thing that these stats certainly point towards is this: opportunity.

Last season, after all, Lo Celso scored nine goals and registered four assists in La Liga, averaging 2 shots per game, 0.8 key passes, 2 dribbles, while he is fouled 2.1 times. Defensively, he mucked in with 1.6 tackles, 0.5 interceptions, 1.1 fouls and was dribbled 0.8 times.

This was a more rounded, complete player and it is because he was playing.

Fernandes is evidence that game time equals chances to shine; it is about time Lo Celso was given his.

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