This article is part of Football FanCast's The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Tottenham Hotspur can sign Giovani Lo Celso in January should they wish to, Real Betis’ vice-president has confirmed per ABC de Sevilla via Sky Sports, but how can Jose Mourinho bring the best out of the Argentine?

On the chalkboard

Lo Celso has played just seven minutes under the new manager, making short cameos against AFC Bournemouth and Manchester United.

Of course, Mauricio Pochettino was manager when Lo Celso was signed and Spurs have an option to buy the midfielder from Betis for a fee of £27.3m in January. If they qualify for the Champions League, they will have to purchase him in the summer anyway.

It is pertinent, then, for Mourinho to start playing Lo Celso.

We have seen throughout his first three games that he has favoured a midfield packed with physical, powerful players, notably Tanguy Ndombele and Eric Dier.

And with Dele Alli enjoying his time in the No.10 role, scoring three goals in three games, there is something of a quandary.

He has thrived as a central midfielder at Betis – scoring 16 goals in all competitions last season – but one would assume that those roles are largely taken.

However, Football FanCast has argued previously that Dier should be dropped after three shoddy performances and Lo Celso could be the man to immediately benefit.

He is not a defensive-minded midfielder but his statistics show that he can get stuck in.

Per WhoScored, he averaged 1.6 tackles per game for Betis in the league last season, as well as 0.5 interceptions and 1.1 fouls.

A good passer of the ball, too, with 82.9% pass completion for the Spanish club, Lo Celso could conceivably sit deep alongside Ndombele and recycle the ball before bursting forward when an opportunity presents itself.

Not ideal

Spurs have backed themselves into a bit of a corner here.

If Mourinho doesn’t take a shine to the Argentine and Spurs qualify for the Champions League, they will have to sign him next summer under the terms of his loan agreement.

That seems like trouble brewing and thus it makes sense for Mourinho to give him a chance to show what he can do now.

No clues whatsoever: Which seasons do these iconic Spurs images belong to?

That way, a decision can be taken prior to the January transfer window and perhaps Betis could even be convinced to take him back.

Separate reports have suggested that Lo Celso would be open to an exit from Spurs in January.

Quite simply, whether Mourinho wants him or not, he has to play.

Meanwhile, Spurs fans have reacted to a new claim about Mauricio Pochettino.