Giovani Lo Celso’s mystery absence
Where is Tottenham’s record signing Giovani Lo Celso?
Last weekend, Jose Mourinho staged an 11 vs 11 game at Tottenham’s empty stadium.
Spurs have also released extended footage of the match on Saturday.
Eagle-eyed Tottenham fans have been working out which players took part in the internal warm-up game.
However, one player who was definitely missing was the club’s record signing, Lo Celso.
From the images across socials worked out the teams (minus 1) for todays 11 aside Home vs Away at White Hart Lane
Home
Vorm
Aurier
Vertonghen
Foyth
Davies
Skipp
Winks
Gedson
Bergwijn
Dele
KaneAway
Lloris
?
Toby
Dier
Sessegnon
White
Sissoko
Ndombele
Lamela
Lucas
Son pic.twitter.com/dzSgadhrdO— Lilywhite Rose (@Lilywhite_Rose) June 5, 2020
It has since been confirmed that the missing player in the Tweet above was versatile youngster George Marsh, who played right back on the “Away” team. Marsh could well come into Mourinho’s thoughts were Serge Aurier to pick up an injury.
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 22: Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea goes down after a challenge from Giovani Lo Celso of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on February 22, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Is Lo Celso injured? Or was he the player who contracted Covid-19?
Tottenham are yet to release any updates on Lo Celso’s whereabouts.
However, last week Spurs confirmed that one member of their squad turned up a positive Covid-19 case in a recent batch of testing.
Harry Kane has since confirmed that the positive test was found in a player. Kane told Sky Sports:
It’s obviously unfortunate that one of our players tested positive, but we’re just going with the guidelines, going with what the Premier League are telling us.
How are Spurs moving forward despite a positive coronavirus test in their camp?
Harry Kane updates as the Tottenham squad prepare for the Premier League return
Full story: https://t.co/OM3llqp3N6 pic.twitter.com/JGa1Py5kZZ
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) June 6, 2020
Football London reporter Alasdair Gold has also suggested that Lo Celso could be missing due to an injury.
To be clear, Alasdair Gold didn’t confirm that the Argentine has suffered an injury, however he’s certainly raised that as a possibility.
If talk of Giovani Lo Celso potentially having an injury that’s worse than first thought (very much unconfirmed I should stress) were to be true will we see Ndombele become an advanced playmaker in the side? The Frenchman appeared to be in that role in the training match footage.
— Alasdair Gold (@AlasdairGold) June 7, 2020
I should stress that I’m not confirming that Lo Celso is going to be out for a while, just simply asking the question about whether Ndombele would be effective in an advanced role if the Argentine is missing for any number of games.
— Alasdair Gold (@AlasdairGold) June 7, 2020
Other Tottenham players missing in action
While Lo Celso missed last weekend’s 11 vs 11 match, he wasn’t the only absentee.
Japhet Tanganga, Davinson Sanchez, Paolo Gazzaniga, and Troy Parrott were all missing from the training game.
Of those four, Parrott is now out due to appendix surgery. It is also possible that Michel Vorm is now considered second choice goalkeeper in front of Gazzaniga.
In sunnier news, Harry Kane, Son Heung-Min, Moussa Sissoko, and Erik Lamela were all in action for Spurs.
Erik Lamela’s insane training match run and finish yesterday.
[via IG Story: eriklamela]#THFC | @SpursOfficial pic.twitter.com/q7S9iDdaz7
— THFCReport (@THFCReports) June 7, 2020
Highlights from Tottenham’s 11 vs 11 game
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 29: Ruben Neves of Wolverhampton Wanderers during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton FC at Molineux on September 29, 2018 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Lynne Cameron/Getty Images)
Why Ruben Neves is unlikely to leave Wolves for Tottenham
French outlet Le 10 Sport has claimed that Wolves and Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves is a target for Tottenham this summer.
Neves has been at Wolves for three seasons. He’s played 125 times for Wolves during that period.
The 23-year-old is under contract at Molineux until 2023.
So could Spurs swoop in for Neves this summer?
While it’s possible that Tottenham table an offer for the Jorge Mendes client, Neves has recently told the Express and Star that he ignores all transfer speculation that swirls around.
In a sign that Neves has no intention of leaving Wolves anytime soon, he said:
I’m really happy here. My family is really happy here as well… I just want to keep on going and help the club.
I just came to play football, to be honest. I came to improve as a player and, fortunately, things are going well.
Of course, it helps when my family like it as well. I’m really comfortable here and I just want to start playing again.
There is always speculation. Since I’ve been here, there’s always been speculation about our team. It’s something normal in football. It’s normal stuff for us.
We don’t think about that, we just think about playing and training.
Of course, we want to be together for the most time we can. But it’s football. The speculation is there, our job is to play.
“I’m really happy here. My family is really happy here as well. So, it was a great decision. I’m really happy. I just want to keep on going and help the club.”
Very encouraging words from Wolves’ midfield magician Ruben Neves. #wwfc https://t.co/OdT4ulnfmC
— Joe Edwards (@JoeEdwards_Star) June 1, 2020
Also see: Premier League friendlies: Tottenham vs Canaries & Leicester to face rivals Aston Villa.
