Fabrizio Romano has shared further details on Tottenham Hotspur’s player-plus-cash swap deal bid to sign Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey.
The North Londoners have been very active in this summer’s transfer window.
Ange Postecoglou has already re-signed Timo Werner on another loan deal, while Spurs have allowed the likes of Tanguy Ndombele, Ryan Sessegnon, Japhet Tanganga and Ivan Perisic to leave the club as well.
Tottenham are expected to sign multiple players in this window, and they have been linked with plenty of names over the last few weeks.
One of them is Aston Villa star Ramsey, and Romano has shared what he knows about Spurs’ reported bid.
Fabrizio Romano shares update on Tottenham’s Giovani Lo Celso and Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey
Years ago, Tottenham tried to sign Jack Grealish from Aston Villa in a player-plus-cash swap deal.
Daniel Levy tried to pull off an offer of £3 million plus Josh Onomah to sign the now-Manchester City star, but Villa rejected that offer then and it proved to be the right decision (The Athletic).
In 2024, Spurs have tried a similar deal, but this offer is a lot more respectable than the one they tabled for Grealish all those years ago.
Reports revealed on Wednesday that Tottenham have made an offer to Aston Villa to sign Ramsey this summer. It was a £20 million bid which also included Giovani Lo Celso in the deal.
Villa, as you would expect, rejected that proposal!
Fabrizio Romano has now had his say on the story, and he has revealed that the news about Tottenham’s bid is indeed true.
However, it happened many weeks ago – not recently. Romano confirmed that Villa rejected the offer immediately and that was the end of that.
Then, the journalist had his say on Lo Celso’s future, and he confirmed that the Argentina international will leave the club this summer.
Speaking on Playback, he said: “What I can tell is, this story of Tottenham making a bid to Aston Villa for Ramsey including a player, Gio Lo Celso, and money, is a bid they made, yes.
“But, it was weeks ago, not this week and not even last week. It was weeks ago. Aston Villa immediately said no.
“Gio Lo Celso has very good chances to leave Tottenham in the summer transfer window. I think Gio Lo Celso will leave Tottenham, this is my feeling.
“Still exploring the options, Betis are there, Unai Emery knows him well, there are several opportunities, but he will leave the club.”
What should Tottenham do now?
Tottenham signed Lo Celso from Real Betis in a deal worth £55 million (Sky Sports).
The Argentina international is a hugely talented player, but for one reason or another, he just hasn’t been able to nail down a regular starting spot at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Lo Celso stayed at Tottenham in the 2023/24 season but spent two spells out on loan before that. He is now about to enter the final year of his contract, and it makes no sense to extend his deal.
So, Tottenham are right to sell Lo Celso, and even though they’ve had one bid rejected for Ramsey, we think they should go back in with another offer – this time with more cash on the table along with the Argentine.
It will be interesting to see what Postecoglou will decide in the coming weeks.