Tottenham fans were rightfully disappointed to see their club miss out on Brazilian ace Willian (especially to Chelsea, a club they may be competing with this season), but if this loss provides them with a springboard to compete for Erik Lamela, it may have all been worth it.
Don’t get me wrong, Willian is a fantastic young footballer, who I’m excited to see working his magic in the Premier League, but Erik Lamela is an entirely different kettle of fish.
The Roma forward was considered to be the heir to Francesco Totti’s throne at the Stadio Olympico. Totti himself once said: “I hope Lamela will be my heir”.
He’s one of the brightest sparks in European football and looks to be destined to have an absolutely magnificent future.
Tottenham signing him now, at this stage in the player’s evolution is something of a coup. I don’t claim that he could come to be as good as the likes of Gareth Bale (after all they aren’t really comparative players), but I expect them both to reach a similar level.
Lamela is a gifted winger, whose pace and trickery have really stood out in Serie A. He’s extremely exciting to watch, because he’s always looking to beat his man and race forward into dangerous positions.
Best of all, he has the know-how and the ability to make things happen when he’s got in behind. Last season he scored 15 goals and notched 6 assists in 35 appearances for Roma. Not bad for a 21-year-old, eh?
Naturally, the Argentine forward wont come cheap. As The Independent note, a deal for Lamela could cost Tottenham as much as £30m (The BBC more or less confirms this figure).
That’s a lot of money, but the club does have some spare this summer. With Andre Villas-Boas looking to build a side that can compete for the Premier League title, Lamela could be the missing link. He’s worth splashing the cash on, simply because he’s going to elevate Spurs into a different plain over the next two-or-three years.
Given his age, he’s only going to get better over the course of his next contract. His re-sale value could well sky-rocket. Now is a good time for Tottenham to make an investment.
He’ll certainly help fans forget about Willian. And about that Gareth Bale guy. Let’s hope AVB can close the deal!
What’s your take? Are Spurs right to pursue this Argentinian ace?
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absolutely…. abso’fuckin’lutely