There has been an update regarding the future of Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, with the Argentine having spent the last six months on loan at Villarreal.
What's the word?
As per journalist Fabrizio Romano, the future of the 26-year-old appears somewhat uncertain, with it looking as if the playmaker is no closer to securing a return to the La Liga side.
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Relaying comments from Villarreal CEO Roig Negueroles, the transfer insider wrote on Twitter that: "Villarreal CEO Roig Negueroles: “Lo Celso is a player who has been happy here and has made us happy, so we would like to continue together”, tells @EsportsVila.
“He’s a Tottenham player and it is a very complicated operation as of now - we’re not even in talks”."
The former Paris Saint-Germain man had joined the Spanish side back in January after failing to establish himself under manager Antonio Conte, with the deal reportedly including an option to buy.
Supporters annoyed
That news will no doubt come as a source of annoyance to Spurs supporters, with the player having appeared to be an asset that the club could cash in on this summer, in order to generate funds for prospective targets.
Although a £150m injection has provided the Italian with a significant transfer kitty for the current window, gaining additional cash from player sales could also prove vital, with the former Chelsea boss plotting a squad revamp ahead of next season.
Reports have suggested that as many as eight first-team players - including Lo Celso - could be set for the axe this summer, with sporting director Fabio Paratici keen to ensure his compatriot has a squad capable of challenging in the 2022/23 season.
Having been signed from Real Betis three years ago, initially on loan, the 39-cap international has struggled to ever really nail down a regular starting role in north London, making just 26 league starts across the last three seasons combined, including just two in the most campaign season prior to his loan departure.
In total, the 5 foot 10 ace has scored just eight goals and provided a further six assists in 84 games in all competitions for the Lilywhites, failing to really justify the reported £27.2m transfer fee that was paid to make his temporary switch a permanent one in January 2020.
Not only will there be a great deal of frustration that the move has thus far failed to work out, but supporters will also undoubtedly be angered by the club's current inability to part ways with a player who simply appears surplus to requirements.
In truth, Lo Celso is a reminder of the muddled transfer mess of the last few seasons, with the club needing to move on from him this summer.