Mourinho clears path for summer axe of injury-hit Tottenham man

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho is prepared to allow midfielder Erik Lamela to leave the club in the summer, according to reports.

Lamela, who joined Spurs for a then-club record fee of £30million in 2013, was a regular in his first three seasons at the club but since then he has struggled with injury problems and consquently fallen down the pecking order.

This season, the Argentina international has played 22 times in all competitions, including making 15 Premier League outings.

Indeed, boss Jose Mourinho has only started him twice in the top flight since he took over from Mauricio Pochettino in November and the midfielder has been absent for his side’s past two games following his return from a hamstring injury.

According to Football Insider, Spurs are willing to listen to offers for Lamela in the summer, when he will enter the final two years of his contract.

Having only signed an extension to his deal in the summer of 2018, the source claims that the end of this season will be the best time to cash in, given that his value will decrease over the next year.

Still, it is added that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is having to bite the bullet with Lamela by preparing to accept that he will be unable to make profit on the player.

Lamela is reportedly set to fall further down the pecking order in the future, with Steven Bergwijn‘s arrival meaning that when Harry Kane returns from injury, Spurs will be well-stocked in attack with Lucas Moura and Son Heung-min also available.

 

 

 

Lamela’s injury problems at Tottenham began midway through the 2016/17 season when he suffered a hip injury which ruled him out of action for 11 months.

As such, the midfielder struggled for game time under Pochettino last season and a hamstring injury this term has further restricted his availability.

Tottenham return to action on Wednesday when they face RB Leipzig in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 tie between the sides.