Spurs ignore interest in club record signing

Lamela

Tottenham Hotspur will not consider farming out club record signing Erik Lamela on loan this summer, according to fresh reports in Italy.

The Argentina international, who arrived from Roma for £30million last year with a stellar reputation, flopped in his first season in English football.

The 22-year-old made only nine top-flight appearances and has not featured for Spurs since the 3-0 win against Stoke City on December 29 after suffering a serious back injury.

Italian source Tutto Mercato Web claims San Siro giants Inter Milan are keen to lure the attacker back to Serie A but are only willing to make an initial loan offer, with a view to a permanent switch at the end of his stay.

However, the report adds that Spurs have given no encouragement that they will allow their mega-money acquisition to leave on a temporary basis, thwarting Inter’s hopes of reviving the player’s career on the cheap.

Napoli are also said to be monitoring the situation with interest, but it is uncertain as to whether they are any more capable than Inter of meeting Tottenham’s valuation and purchasing him for an up-front fee.

Spurs still hold out hope that the appointment of Lamela’s fellow countryman Mauricio Pochettino as their new head coach will help him regain his best form next term.