3. Erik Lamela
The signing of Erik Lamela was the most exciting of all seven in 2013 and straight away he was being compared to the departing Gareth Bale. His club record deal was something that clearly stood out and for a young Argentinian player coming over to England a lot was expected of him straight away.
He was a very skilful player that had huge potential and was very well suited for Roma in Italy. However, the difference in Italian football and English football showed with Lamela, he was weak and played the game at a much slower pace. He became a laughing-stock and branded a huge flop.
A long injury then made his settling in process even harder and talk of an exit and return back to Italy was being heard after he failed to appear once during Tim Sherwood’s short spell as manager. The arrival of Pochettino in 2014 was a light at the end of a very dark tunnel for Lamela, a fellow countryman coming in would surely give him the help he needed. He struggled again the next season and he was very close to moving away from the club on loan on the summer deadline day of 2015.
Pochettino prevented this from happening as he saw potential in Lamela and knew he could be a success. Poch was right, Lamela has started to prove his worth this season and has been one of Tottenham’s stand out performers. Could this finally be his breakthrough and we get the chance to see the best of Lamela? I hope so.
Next: Nacer Chadli