John Wenham, the influential figure behind the well-known Tottenham Hotspur podcast Lilywhite Rose, has raised the possibility that the club might consider allowing Giovani Lo Celso to depart without a transfer fee before the current transfer window closes on August 30th. Lo Celso, who has yet to feature for Tottenham Hotspur during the 2024/25 season, appears to be out of favor under the management of Ange Postecoglou.
Wenham argues that it would be in Tottenham’s best interest to take decisive action to move Lo Celso out of the club, even if it means releasing him from his contract without compensation. The main motivation behind this drastic measure would be to avoid the significant financial burden of continuing to pay the midfielder’s substantial salary, reported to be in excess of £100,000 per week, especially when he is not contributing to the team on the pitch.
Since the beginning of the summer transfer window, Lo Celso has been one of the players most widely expected to exit the club. Despite this, there has been a surprising lack of concrete interest from other teams in securing his services. This situation puts Tottenham in a difficult position, as they are under pressure to resolve his future before the transfer window closes.
Lo Celso’s contract with Tottenham is set to expire next summer, which adds an additional layer of urgency to the situation. If the Argentine international remains with the club past the transfer deadline without securing a move elsewhere, Tottenham runs the risk of losing him for free at the end of his contract. This scenario would mean that the club would have to continue paying his hefty wages for another year without any return on investment, only to see him leave on a free transfer in 2025.
Given these circumstances, Wenham suggests that Tottenham may need to make a pragmatic decision in the coming days. If no offers are forthcoming, the club might be better off terminating Lo Celso’s contract now rather than waiting another year and facing the financial consequences of maintaining a player who is not part of the first-team plans.
For Tottenham, the ideal outcome would be to secure a transfer fee for Lo Celso before the deadline, thus recouping some of the money invested in him. However, if that proves impossible, allowing him to leave on a free transfer might be the lesser of two evils. The club would at least avoid paying out his substantial wages over the next year and could redirect those funds towards other areas of the squad that need strengthening.
In the current transfer market, where clubs are often reluctant to take on players with high wage demands, especially if they have not been performing at their best, Tottenham’s situation with Lo Celso is a challenging one. The lack of interest from other clubs could be due to various factors, including the player’s form, injury history, or simply the financial constraints that many teams are operating under.
For Lo Celso, a move away from Tottenham could represent an opportunity to revive his career, especially if he finds a club where he can play regularly and re-establish himself as a key player. While his time at Tottenham has been mixed, with flashes of brilliance often overshadowed by inconsistency and injuries, a fresh start elsewhere might be exactly what he needs to rediscover his best form.
From Tottenham’s perspective, releasing Lo Celso now, rather than waiting until his contract expires, would be a proactive step in managing their wage bill and ensuring that all resources are being used efficiently. In the fast-paced world of football, where financial flexibility can often be the difference between success and failure, making tough decisions like this one is sometimes necessary.
In summary, as the transfer window draws to a close, Tottenham faces a critical decision regarding Giovani Lo Celso. With no concrete offers on the table and the risk of losing him for free next summer looming large, the club may need to consider allowing him to leave without a transfer fee. While this would not be an ideal outcome, it could ultimately be the most practical solution to a complex situation.