Tottenham 'working on new contract' after Lionel Messi approval

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly working on a new contract offer for midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, despite his limited Premier League appearances this season. Manager Ange Postecoglou is keen to convince the Argentine that he is part of his long-term vision.

Lo Celso's current contract will be entering its final year come summer. The 28-year-old has been linked with a move away from Spurs, with Barcelona and his former club Real Betis showing interest.

Spanish outlet AS reported that Lionel Messi recommended Lo Celso to Barcelona during the January transfer window, even going as far as to say that Lo Celso is Argentina's best midfielder. This could potentially earn Tottenham the approval of Messi, as they are said to be in the process of offering Lo Celso a two-year extension, possibly with an increased salary to persuade him to stay.

Lo Celso has made 17 appearances in the Premier League this season, starting only four times. His total playing time amounts to 464 minutes, equivalent to five full matches.

Real Betis, where Lo Celso had two stints before moving to Tottenham in 2019, expressed interest in bringing him back last summer and again in January.

However, the ex-Paris Saint-Germain player chose to stay in North London. Earlier this year, in an interview he spoke about how Postecoglou's faith in him played a significant role in his decision to remain at Tottenham.

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He shared: «I was really grateful for his belief in me, so I worked hard and showed every day that I wanted to be here and play. I've felt really comfortable in training and in