Erik Lamela could have an uncertain future this summer. The 27-year-old has endured yet another season of disappointment due to injury problems which may give Mauricio Pochettino pause for thought for the future. Lamela has been at Tottenham for six years, but he’s struggled for playing time in the last three and could be deemed surplus to requirements next season.
The Argentine international made 33 appearances in all competitions in 2018/19, but he racked up less than 1000 minutes in the Premier League and amassed only 29 minutes in the Champions League knockouts. Lamela started only nine league games and three in Europe. He averaged only 47 minutes-per-appearance and only played a full 90 on four occasions.
Injuries can’t be helped, but Tottenham aren’t getting their money’s worth from the former AS Roma winger. Lamela set the Lilywhites back £25.7m in 2013, earned £60k-per-week until 2018 and is now 12 months into a contract worth £4.16m-a-year/£80k-per-week. Tottenham have spent around £45.4m in total on a player with 29 goals in 187 games – 4.83 goals-a-year.
Lamela hasn’t played 1000 minutes of Premier League football in any of the last three seasons and could be deemed expendable by Pochettino and Daniel Levy this summer. The Argentine is well-linked by supporters for his work-rate, but he’s hardly contributed in the last three years and is eating up the wage bill.