Pundit believes Spurs swap deal this summer would ‘make perfect sense’

Noel Whelan has predicted that Daniel Levy could try and include Giovani Lo Celso as a makeweight in any deal to sign Pau Torres from Villarreal.

The Daily Mail reported last week that Tottenham are set to reignite their interest in Torres this summer after the centre-back rejected the North Londoners’ approach 12 months ago.

The report claimed that Villarreal will demand a transfer fee close to the 25-year-old’s buy out clause, which stands at £55m.

Meanwhile, according to Estadio Deportivo, Lo Celso does not have a future at Spurs with both the player and Antonio Conte believing that he is not suited to the intensity and physicality of the Premier League.

The report added that the Lilywhites want a fee close to the €50m (£42.7m) they paid for the Argentine, which is thought to be more than what Unai Emery’s side can afford.

Whelan believes that a part-exchange deal involving Lo Celso and Torres would this suit all parties.

The former Leeds United forward told Football Insider: “I think Daniel Levy will always look to get a cut-price deal unless it’s for one of his players.

“There are so many deals that can be done to lower it. Trust me, if Daniel Levy can get away with giving them a player and spending £25-30million, he will.

“It makes perfect sense. They’re getting a player (Lo Celso) who’s creative and seems to be settling in well at Villarreal. He has done well for them this season.

“That would work perfectly because he’s not in Conte’s plans. That’s clear to see because that’s why he’s out on loan. There’s already a relationship between the two clubs that could get this deal done.”

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A swap deal would indeed make sense if Torres is at the top of Conte’s wishlist for the left centre-back role. The Italian might have reservations about the Villarreal centre-back’s ability to cope with the physicality of the Premier League.

If that is the case, Spurs could look to get a bidding war going for Lo Celso and use the funds to sign a player like Bremer or Bastoni, who would be better for English football.

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