Tottenham Hotspur went into a negotiation with Real Betis looking to sell one player, and have come out with part of another. Giovani Lo Celso will move back to Seville on transfer deadline day, but the compensation received by Spurs has taken on a curious form.
Lo Celso was Betis’ top target after missing out on Dani Ceballos, and they were desperate to get a deal over the line with Tottenham Hotspur. However they were keen not to pay a fee, and will end up fronting just his salary for a three-year deal with the Argentina international, who has an option for a further year.
Matteo Moretto has explained to Football España that instead of a fee, Spurs will have an option to buy USMNT midfielder Johnny Cardoso, who arrived at the club in January for €6m. If they do not want to buy him, they will still have the chance to make money on the 22-year-old, instead retaining a sell-on fee percentage.
Cardoso has looked impressive in the early going, and is a defensive midfielder primarily concerned with holding the defence together, and recovering the ball high up the pitch. He is competent on the ball, and possesses a vicious shot – just months after arriving, he was already being tipped for a big-money move this summer.
