Tottenham Hotspur manager Tim Sherwood has stated that Erik Lamela will stay at Tottenham Hotspur in the January transfer window.
The Argantine winger, who signed from Serie A club AS Roma has recently been linked with a move away from Tottenham.
He has failed to make a mark at White Hart Lane, playing just twelve Premier League games since his £30 million move from the Italian club, as chairman Daniel Levy spent big to fill the void left by Gareth Bale, who left to join Real Madrid of course.
Lamela has also been linked with a move away from White Hart Lane in recent weeks. A loan move to Atletico Madrid has been mooted for the club-record signing.
Serie A sides Inter Milan, AC Milan, and former club AS Roma, have also been linked.
“He won’t be leaving on loan in this transfer window. He has a big future here, absolutely,” the Tottenham manager said of the Argentina international.
“We know what a talented player Erik is. We also understand that players need time to settle.
“He needs time to acclimatise to this country. He doesn’t speak English and he isn’t used to the pace of the games, especially over the Christmas period when they come thick and fast.
“He is not 100 per cent fit either. He’s still feeling fatigued in one of his thighs so we were very cautious with him.
“We are going to take it nice and steady with him. I really want to put him on the stage when he’s ready to perform, rather than let people judge him when he’s half-cocked.”
The midfielder came with a big reputation, and a big price tag, from the Italian giants, having impressed inthe 2012/13 Serie A campaign.
But he has failed to capture the form that got him his lucrative deal to join the Lilywhites.
However, poor form and mis-managment from former boss Villas Boas, have left the winger frozen out of the first team squad all together.
But Sherwood’s recent announcement may bring fresh hope for Lamela.
Tottenham host Crystal Palace at White Hart Lane on Saturday.
By Ben Reardon
@BenReardon1
