Spurs Transfer News: Erik Lamela Loan Could Lead To Man Utd Koke Capture?
Tottenham Hotspur head coach Andre Villas-Boas is weighing up whether to loan record signing Erik Lamela out to Atletico Madrid as their Premier League rivals prepare bids for in-demand playmaker Koke.
As Thursday's Daily Express revealed, reports out of Spain suggest that AVB will send £30 million Argentina winger Lamela, 21, to the Vicente Calderon in January.
Lamela has struggled to make an impact since joining Spurs in August. He has scored just once and made three assists from 13 appearances in all competitions.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone meanwhile is bracing himself for interest in academy graduate Koke, also 21, from Europe's elite clubs.
By sending Lamela to Madrid on a short-term loan, Tottenham could inadvertently help the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Barcelona and AC Milan in the race for Koke.
Nicknamed the 'new Xavi', Koke leads the La Liga assists table this term alongside Barca pair Neymar and Cesc Fabregas.
United's interest in Koke was confirmed by the Daily Mail as Red Devils manager David Moyes watched the player from the stands as Atletico beat FC Porto 2-0 in the Champions League.
Having only signed a new five-year deal in Madrid in September, Koke is rumoured to have a buyout clause of £30 million in his contract.
Should Atletico lose their creative midfielder in the winter window, they may also turn their attentions to Chelsea's Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian is on the fringes of the Stamford Bridge squad.
Is it right to let a struggling player go out on loan if it sets in motion a transfer chain that helps your rivals? We'd like to hear from both Spurs and Manchester United supporters on this one.