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Amid transfer moves, is Pochettino gambling on Tottenham star Erik Lamela?

Erik Lamela passes the ball during a Tottenham Hotspur training session ahead of their UEFA Champions League Group E match against Bayer 04 Leverku...
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Tottenham Hotspur have been reluctant to improve their attack, potentially showing how much hope Mauricio Pochettino still holds out for Erik Lamela.

Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenha Hotspur  gives his team instructions during the Premier League match between Hull City and Tottenham Hotspur at the KC Stadium on May 21, 2017 in...

Tottenham Hotspur are pushing ahead in the transfer market to secure a triple swoop for Davinson Sanchez, Juan Foyth and Serge Aurier.

All three are defenders, and will add vital depth and competition in a part of their squad which was already the strongest.

Spurs have been less determined to improve their attack, despite a shortage of creativity evident against Chelsea at the weekend when the Blues managed to shut down Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen.

Tottenham do have one wildcard in their ranks, winger Erik Lamela who The Guardian reported they paid £25.8 million to sign in 2013.

Erik Lamela passes the ball during a Tottenham Hotspur training session ahead of their UEFA Champions League Group E match against Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the Tottenham Hotspur Training...

Lamela’s time at Spurs has been frustrating. He has showed signs of being a real talent when fit, but his debut season was a write-off due to injury and he has not featured since last October.

There is no official return date on his current hip problem, although Premier Injuries project he has a return date of mid-October.

Harry Arter of AFC Bournemouth (L) pulls Erik Lamela of Tottenham Hotspur (R) shoulder during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur at Vitality Stadium on...

Tottenham’s decision so far not to splash a big fee on a Riyad Mahrez or Thomas Lemar could be a result of just how highly Pochettino rates Lamela.

The Argentine began to flourish under his compatriot, and his willingness to press from the front made him an ideal winger for Pochettino’s brand of football.

Waiting on Lamela is a gamble by Spurs considering they expected him back long before now, but his talent could well be a major factor in Tottenham prioritising their spending in defence.