POCH TO GO AGAIN
TOTTENHAM are set to go back in for Barcelona’s Andre Gomes in January. Both Spurs and West Ham were offered the chance to sign the Portugal midfielder last week, with Mauricio Pochettino coming closest to nabbing him on deadline day. Gomes favoured a move to Tottenham to work with boss Pochettino and was ready to join them on loan for the rest of the season. But the move fell through when Barcelona pulled the plug at the last minute after failing to sign a replacement. Gomes only joined Barca from Valencia in a transfer worth up to £50m last summer but has barely featured since, often being forced to play out of position. The 24-year-old’s future remains up in the air but Spurs believe he will be made available when the transfer window reopens. Pochettino is looking to boost his squad, despite bringing in Fernando Llorente, Serge Aurier, Davinson
® by PAUL BROWN Sanchez, Juan Foyth and Paulo Gazzaniga. And Gomes, who won Euro 2016 with Portugal, will remain on his radar over the next few months with a view to a January move.
West Ham are still monitoring developments but Spurs are currently in pole position should Gomes be allowed to leave Spain.
Meanwhile, Spurs have scotched suggestions Erik Lamela’s troublesome hip injury could put his career in doubt.
Concern
Tottenham great Ricky Villa was quoted in Argentina suggesting there were fears Lamela may not return from the problem, which has sidelined him for 11 months.
Villa said: “There is concern if he will play again. In England they are worried about him. I hope he can come back.”
But club insiders insist Lamela, who was left out of their Champions League squad, is poised to make a full recovery.
A £30m signing from Roma in 2013, Lamela is back in training but remains “several weeks away” from a return.