Tottenham send Erik Lamela to River Plate in bid to improve form of £30m signing

The Argentinian endured a disastrous first season at White Hart Lane

Tottenham winger Erik Lamela (GETTY IMAGES)

Tottenham do not appear to have given up on Erik Lamela with the club taking action to ensure his second season is an improvement on his disastrous first.

The £30m club-record signing from Roma made just nine Premier League appearances and found the back of the net once, in a Europa League game, in his debut season.

That led to speculation that the Argentinian, who missed out on his nation's World Cup squad due to his woeful form, could make a swift exit from White Hart Lane.

However the club are hoping the arrival of his compatriot Mauricio Pochettino as the club's new manager can turn Lamela's Spurs career around, and in a further bid to see improvement next season, the winger is being sent to train with his former club River Plate.

The 22-year-old is being put on a special fitness programme while returning to his native country for the summer and it is understood he will train with the team which brought him through the ranks.

Lamela is then expected to return for pre-season a week before the rest of the squad to give him a head-start going into a new campaign.