Bologna relying on old link-up after confirming interest in Tottenham man

Serie A side Bologna have confirmed they are looking into trying to sign Tottenham forward Erik Lamela this summer.

Bologna, who sit 11th in the table, are looking at options should Riccardo Orsolini leave them. The 24-year-old Italian’s contract runs out in 2022 and could be sold on this summer. Last year Orsolini was a target for his old club Juventus and Bologna may decide to cash in on the winger at the end of the season.

Bologna sports coordinator Walter Sabatini is well aware of Orsolini’s situation and is lining up a move for the Argentine Lamela.

“Lamela is one of the names we are looking into,” Sabatini told Il Resto del Carlino. “Let me explain: We are trying to understand if there are possibilities to get there.

“Surely, should Orsolini leave, there would be no better substitute. We’ll see.”

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Lamela, 29, is one of Spurs’ longest-serving players after moving to north London in August 2013.

However, injuries have hampered his progress throughout his Premier League career. As such, he has struggled to nail down a regular role in the team.

This season has been no different for the former AS Roma man, who has made just five Premier League starts. He has made a further seven starts in cups for Jose Mourinho this season, but Harry Kane, Gareth Bale and Son Heung-min are all ahead of him in the pecking order.

Lamela’s contract will expire in June 2022 and there has been talk that Spurs will look to offload him this summer rather than lose him for free.

Sabatini brokered Lamela transfer in 2011

Lamela though appears keen on staying in the capital and Fabrizio Romano recently said this on the Here We Go podcast.

“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,” said Romano.

“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 focusing on Tottenham. He’s happy at Tottenham so I think he will stay.”

What does make the situation more interesting is that Sabatini does have a relationship with Lamela. He brokered the player’s move from River Plate to Roma, while he was sporting director in the Italian capital in the summer of 2011.

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