Real Betis president Ángel Haro has insisted they believe Tottenham will pay the January release clause for midfielder Giovani Lo Celso.
Lo Celso joined Tottenham in the summer transfer window after several months of speculation about a move to London.
He initially joined on a season-long loan deal which included the option for Tottenham to turn it permanent next summer.
That option becomes mandatory if they qualify for the Champions League, although they can pay less for Lo Celso by activating another clause that comes into effect in the January transfer window.
It had been suggested that was a clause they would take up to save money on the Argentine but his disappointing performances so far, coupled with José Mourinho’s arrival at the club, could have changed those plans dramatically.
Betis, for their part, have made it clear they believe Tottenham will still pay in January and their president is standing by that stance.
Speaking at the club’s general meeting, in which it was revealed Betis’ accounts are dependant on the potential sale of Lo Celso, Estadio Deportivo report Haro saying he has no ‘news regarding the purchase option’.
However, he believes that Spurs will ‘exercise it because if they don’t, they will be taxed a lot if they exercise it in June’ and they ‘may also have to exercise it on a mandatory basis’ at that point.
He added that at Betis they ‘understand Spurs will exercise the option’ although if they don’t, Lo Celso is a player who they will be ‘delighted’ to see return to the club.
That opens the door for Tottenham not to pay the clause, although at this point everyone at Betis seems to believe it’s a case of when rather than if on the subject of him signing at Spurs permanently.
