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The transfer window in France has slammed shut and it has done so without Olympique Marseille being able to complete the loan (or maybe transfer) signing of Erik Lamela. According to Le 10 Sport, everything looked good following the player agreeing to terms with the club, but Marseille and Tottenham could not reach an agreement due to a "change of position." That change, apparently, came from Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino.
RMC say it was Pochettino who blocked Lamela transfer.
— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) August 31, 2015
Pochettino qui bloque le prêt avec option d'achat de Lamela à l'OM ! C'est dur mais c'est le mercato, c'est la vie, c'est le football !
— Mohamed Bouhafsi (@mohamedbouhafsi) August 31, 2015
Initial reports claimed that OM couldn't complete the deal to complications with having too many players on loan, but that does not appear to be the case.
Due to LFP rulings Marseille must sign Erik Lamela out right in order to complete a deal, as they have already have 5 players on loan. #THFC
— Daily Hotspur™ (@Daily_Hotspur) August 31, 2015
All of this begs the question as to why Spurs would pull out of a deal for Lamela. The Argentine has failed to live up to his promise since his club record signing from Roma in 2013. He's looked good in flashes, but has not started this newest campaign off on the right foot and offers from Italy seemed to be flying in. With interest so high, now seemed like the perfect time for Spurs to cash in.
So, why is Pochettino so keen to keep Lamela? No idea. Given the additions of Clinton N'jie and Son Heung-Min, there seems to be plenty of options for Pochettino to use out wide and if some of the other rumored signings come in, Pochettino will have no shortage of options to replace Lamela. I can only imagine that Poch has a lot of faith in his countryman and still expects him to be an important part of the Tottenham squad.