Speaking recently on the Here We Go podcast, Fabrizio Romano discussed the future of Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Erik Lamela.
So far this season, Lamela has been in rather contrasting form for Tottenham, with the 29-year-old averaging a disappointing SofaScore match rating of 6.69/10 over his 17 Premier League appearances – ranking him as the club’s eighth-worst player in the top flight – however, over his five Europa League fixtures, the midfielder has averaged a more impressive rating of 6.92 – ranking him as the club’s 14th-best player in the competition.
With reports earlier this season suggesting that Jose Mourinho could be open to parting with the £82,000-per-week Argentine and using him as a makeweight for incoming deals, the £14.4 million-rated man’s future at north London appeared to be in doubt.
However, speaking on a recent episode of the Here We Go podcast, Romano claimed that, unless a big offer is submitted for Lamela this summer, the midfielder will be going nowhere.
He said: “He wants to stay, he wants to focus on Tottenham. There are a lot of rumours, but he is always focused on Tottenham. His main idea is to stay, to fight for a place, to be a starter for Tottenham.
“So, at the moment, he’s not planning to leave the club. It was the same in January when there were rumours about other countries, other clubs – no, Lamela is focused on Tottenham. He’s happy at Tottenham. So, I think he will stay. If something big [doesn’t] happen next summer, he will stay.”
Should Spurs move Lamela on this summer?
Yes
No
TIF Thoughts on Fabrizio Romano’s comments regarding Erik Lamela…
From Romano’s comments, it would certainly appear as if the journalist feels Lamela is happy at Spurs, and the 29-year-old wants to fight for a starting place in Mourinho’s team.
However, this apparent desire of the midfielder is something that will have to be put on hold for at least the club’s next Premier League fixture, as he is suspended following his sending-off in the north London derby loss last weekend.
It nevertheless appears that he is not as close to the exit door as reports had suggested.