Erik Lamela deserves another year at Tottenham
The English press is all over Toby Alderweireld’s contract status at Tottenham, but he isn’t the only Spurs player with a new deal hanging in the balance. The club also have a key decision to make about Erik Lamela’s future in North London too.
Fortunately, the decision regarding Lamela’s future is much easier than the question of how much Alderweireld should earn. ESPN reports that Spurs have an option to extend the Argentine attacker’s contract by another season. Such a decision would keep him in Mauricio Pochettino’s squad through the end of the 2019-20 campaign.
Presumably, Tottenham’s hesitation to act this clause is related to Lamela’s health. The attacking midfielder has missed more time than he’s actually been available during his career at Spurs. While that’s an understandable reason for the club’s hesitancy, it’s still an easy choice for Daniel Levy and company to make.
We’re talking about a player who just started, and played magnificently, in one of the most important matches the club has played in years. Pochettino’s decision to start him at Juventus caught quite a few Spurs fans off guard, but it proved to be a move of sheer genius. Lamela was tremendous against The Old Lady. He tirelessly worked to win the ball when his club lost possession and he’s always an outlet for his teammates when Spurs have the ball. He is the club’s most complete attacking midfielder.
Certainly extending his deal by another year carries significant risk. Lamela could suffer another serious injury and become an empty investment. On the other hand, he could regain full fitness and full confidence. If that happens, he could transform himself into one of the lowest earning members of Pochettino’s starting XI.
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If I had the belief that Tottenham were going to spend a fortune on transfers this summer I might feel differently. The reality is that Spurs are going to be minor players in the market due to the construction costs of their new stadium. Levy might sanction one purchase expensive enough to replace a player of Lamela’s talent, but Pochettino might be better served to spend that on a new defensive midfielder.
It’s much easier and cost-effective to keep a player of Lamela’s talent in the squad than to go out and purchase a big name replacement. That’s why Tottenham should go ahead and extend Lamela’s contract for another year. If they want to delay the decision to make sure he stays healthy that’s all well and good. Barring a catastrophic injury, keeping Lamela in the fold for another year is a no-brainer for Spurs.