Spurs Transfer News: £30 Million Rated Erik Lamela Talks Ongoing
Daily Mail. Spurs director Franco Baldini knows the 21-year-old well having watched the youngster develop his game in Rome and believes he is the ideal player for manager Andre Villas-Boas. The Portuguese boss wants to operate this season with a 4-3-3 formation and Lamela, who can play in various roles across the front line, is seen as an ideal signing to fit this model. The former River Plate star enjoyed a terrific campaign in Italy last season, scoring 15 Serie A goals in 33 appearances, and has attracted interest from a number of the continent's leading clubs. Spurs are concerned however that the £30 million asking price is too high for a player who has just recently turned 21, though Roma could be willing to sell for less given their current financial difficulties. Villas-Boas - who has made four summer signings already after landing Paulinho, tienne Capoue, Nacer Chadli and Roberto Soldado - is weighing up a number of other targets but Lamela, who has been on Spur's radar for a year, is the priority. Lamela signed for Roma in 2011 after emerging from the youth system at Argentinian side River Plate, and has two caps for the Argentinan national team.