Tottenham: Big-money attacker wanted move to French heavyweights

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According to reports in France, Tottenham‘s Erik Lamela was keen on the prospect of moving to Olympique de Marseille before the summer transfer window closed.

The Argentine playmaker has been a major flop since moving to White Hart Lane for £30 million [via the Daily Mail].

He has wholly failed to live up to his price tag and looked set to follow fellow big-money failure Roberto Soldado out of the club this summer.

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La Provence reported that the attacker was on the brink of a move to Marseille on Sunday evening, only for Spurs to perform a late u-turn and block the move.

The French source understand that Mauricio Pochettino insisted that Lamela would remain in north London until Saido Berahino had been brought to the club to replace him.

The West Bromwich Albion forward—controversially—never made the move to White Hart Lane [Standard], meaning that a subsequent bid from Everton [via Le 1o Sport] was also rejected by the Lilywhites.

Intriguingly, however, Spurs reportedly offered the Argentina international to Southampton as part of a late bid to secure Victor Wanyama [London Evening Standard], although it’s hard to see how the Kenyan enforcer would have replaced the goal threat lost with Lamela’s departure.

According to Le 10 Sport, Lamela actively wanted the move to Marseille, and was interested in the challenge posed by a move to the Stade Velodrome.

Having missed out on a switch to OM, and forced to remain at Spurs, what will Lamela be able to contribute at White Hart Lane this season, and will Pochettino be able to count on a key contribution from his big-name star?

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