Tottenham Hotspur winger Erik Lamela recently denied all the transfer rumors he was mentioned in this summer and had insisted that the English Premier League giants will only get better this coming season.
The Spurs finished third in the 2015-2016 English top flight competitions and were actually Leicester City's number one contender for the title until their breakdown in the final few matchdays of last season. They managed to qualify for the Champions League, though, and so head coach Mauricio Pochettino had made key moves this offseason to prepare for their continental participation.
Lamela had been a key part of Tottenham's campaign last term, appearing in 34 games and scoring five times in the domestic competitions mainly as backup to first-choice striker Harry Kane or playing behind him in the attacking midfield.
Despite his impressive performances, the 24-year-old Argentina international had always been the subject of transfer rumors every summer and this year was no different. It then prompted him to refute again all the speculations, saying that he is "determined to help the Spurs improve on last season's third place finish", as per the Mirror.
"Ever since I came to Tottenham I've heard that I am supposed to be leaving," Lamela said. "It is the same every summer. I do not know why."
Lamela was acquired by the Spurs from Italian Serie A side AS Roma in the summer of 2013 in a deal that cost an initial £25.8 million, plus up to £4.2 million in bonus payments. He has been with the club for three seasons already and he insisted that he has no plans of making an exit.
"Even when things did not go as planned at the start, I never thought about leaving," he said. "Last year we did very well by finishing third. I feel we can do even better this season."
Caught Offside noted that the "Argentinian scored 11 goals and provided 10 assists in all competitions for Tottenham last season", which would continue to prove valuable for the Spurs especially in the Champions League.
Lamela still has two years remaining in his five-year deal with the White Hart Lane residents. There are no reports of any discussions for a contract extension at the moment.