Tottenham Hotspur star Erik Lamela has not played for the club since October.
Reports have been circulating over this past week that Spurs enquired about the availability of Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez during the January transfer window (the Times).
Tottenham fans have been vocal in their belief that their club should be signing more world-class stars to help supplement the already impressive group of players that Mauricio Pochettino has at his disposal.
Tottenham star shares concern for Liverpool clash
But does Spurs’ reported pursuit of the Algerian mean that Pochettino has lost faith in Erik Lamela?
The Argentine has been missing in action since October with an injury problem that has been hard to diagnose, and there have been doubts over the 24-year-old’s future at White Hart Lane.
Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez
Although Lamela can play anywhere along the front line, his best position is in the wide right attacking role – the exact position that Mahrez plays.
And it has to at least be considered that if the Leicester man made the move to Tottenham, Lamela’s days in north London could be numbered.
The former Roma man moved to Spurs in the summer of 2013, for a fee believed to be in the region of £25.7 million, but has failed to live up to high expectations, scoring just eight goals in 85 league appearances for the Lilywhites.
Tottenham’s Erik Lamela
And the potential acquisition of Mahrez would arguably be an upgrade on the Argentine winger.
The Algeria international has had troubles of his own this season, however, after failing to meet the high standards that he set of himself last term.
Ian Wright’s verdict on Tottenham’s title hopes
But his talent is still beyond question, and if Pochettino does manage to bring him to the club in the summer, Lamela’s place in the team will most definitely not be a foregone conclusion.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
