Tottenham have option to extend Érik Lamela’s contract by a further year

Tottenham have the option of extending Érik Lamela’s contract by a further year, meaning he would be secured until the summer of 2020 and there is therefore less urgency over talks regarding a new deal.

The Argentina winger joined from Roma in August 2013 for a then club-record £30m on a four-year contract. That was known to have an option for a further two seasons, which the club activated, and it has now emerged that Tottenham can trigger an additional year. They are considering whether to take that up.

READ MORE: Higuain slams ‘armchair’ fans after Tottenham draw

READ MORE: Lamela salutes ‘extraordinary’ Higuain performance

It is not unusual for the club’s chairman, Daniel Levy, to insert such clauses into players’ contracts to give him increased degrees of control.

Lamela’s time at Tottenham has been blighted by injuries. He missed the second half of his first season with a back problem and he returned last October from a 13-month lay-off caused by hip problems. But Mauricio Pochettino turned to him from the start in the Champions League tie at Juventus on Tuesday night and Lamela played his part in a fine team performance in the 2-2 draw.

Lamela has been persistently linked with a return to Serie A, with Internazionale – among other leading clubs – routinely credited with an interest in him. The 25-year-old’s priority is rediscovering his top form and fitness.

“Obviously, I’m happy at Tottenham,” Lamela told the Guardian in an interview last month. “If not, I would have left. I feel a part of the club, I’m at home here. I am not thinking about how long is left on my contract.”