Erik Lamela insists he is determined to remain at Tottenham even though the club were prepared to sell him in the summer.

Marseille were interested in bringing Tottenham’s £30million record signing to France while the forward’s father Jose told Italian media that they had held discussions with Inter Milan.

Yet Lamela remained, and has been given a regular starting role by Spurs head coach Mauricio Pochettino this term. Even though Lamela senior also said that Serie A was “more suited” to his son’s characteristics, the 23-year-old stresses that he had no wish to quit White Hart Lane.

“Ever since I got here, people have spoken about me leaving,” Lamela told Standard Sport. “They said it the first year, the second year and now in the third. But I didn’t speak because there was nothing to say. My mind has always been here at Tottenham. Would I have moved to Marseille, Inter, back to Roma? No — I have always wanted to stay here and I have always made that clear. It’s something I’ve said to my team-mates, to the club, to everyone. I feel good here, I like it. I am very happy. I feel I’ve adapted and my team-mates make me feel at home.”

Tottenham vs Liverpool - Player ratings 23 show all Tottenham vs Liverpool - Player ratings 1/23 Hugo Lloris: 6 Did not have many saves to make but difficult to criticise. Kicked well and provided a safe pair of hands when called upon. 2/23 Kyle Walker: 6 A typically hit and miss display from the full back. Sloppy in possession on occasion but also in key defensive positions on others. 3/23 Toby Alderweireld: 6 Coped well under intense pressure when in possession but was unsure of himself when Origi attacked with pace. Getty 4/23 Jan Vertonghen: 6 Calm and composed in possession, the Belgian marshalled his back line well and ensured that Spurs were not overrun. 5/23 Danny Rose: 7 Had the look of a man determined to cement his place in the side. Excellent delivery into the area and caused Milner plenty of problems. Tom Dulat/Getty Images 6/23 Dele Alli: 7 Continues to impress. Nothing seems to faze the newly capped England international. 7/23 Mousa Dembele: 7 Dembele impressed in the central role coming for the suspended Eric Dier, breaking up play and moving possession quickly for Spurs. Clive Brunskill/Getty Images 8/23 Nacer Chadli: N/A Withdrawn early on through injury. 9/23 Christian Eriksen: 7 An excellent display, the Dane's vision in the final third is exemplary. Can find Kane's run like no-one else in Tottenham's side. Ian Walton/Getty Images 10/23 Erik Lamela: 7 Boundless energy was combined with a real grit by the Argentine. He was never shy to get stuck in and embodies Pochettino's high pressing system. Julian Finney/Getty Images 11/23 Harry Kane: 6 Isolated at times, but relished the battle with Liverpool's central defenders. Could have made more of the few sights of goal that he had. Tom Dulat/Getty Images 12/23 Clinton N'Jie: 7 The forward had two superb opportunities and proved to be a constant menace for the Liverpool backline. His best display for Spurs yet. 13/23 Simon Mignolet: 6 A hit and miss display from the goalkeeper. Careless kicking contrasted with fine reflex saves. If he could iron out such inconsistencies he would be a fine goalkeeper. Getty 14/23 Nathaniel Clyne: 5 Struggled to cope with N'Jie's footwork at times but was not entirely overrun by his opposite number. Held his own. Getty 15/23 Martin Skrtel: 6 Caught out on a couple of occasions but made sure Kane could not get a foothold in the game. Fought for every ball like it was the last. Getty 16/23 Mamadou Sakho: 7 Constantly in the right place at the right time, the Frenchman made a series of crucial blocks. Passed well. Getty 17/23 Alberto Moreno: 5 Can neglect his defensive duties when he gets caught up in an attack. Needs to have more composure in his own third and when in possession. Getty 18/23 Emre Can: 7 Very fired up early on, Can relished his midfield role and his high energy pressing will have him endeared him to countryman Klopp. Getty 19/23 Lucas Leiva: 5 The Brazilian will struggle to command a place in the side once everyone is fit. Getty 20/23 James Milner: 5 In the wars for most of the game, Milner was treated to some rough treatment but also dished out a bit of his own. Getty 21/23 Adam Lallana: 6 Fortunate that his error did not gift Spurs a goal in the first half. Although guilty of errors in possession he threatened in the final third but could not find a breakthrough. Getty 22/23 Philippe Coutinho: 6 The onus was on the Brazilian to create and he drifted across the front line into some encouraging positions but did not provide the moment of magic that he is commonly associated with. Getty 23/23 Divock Origi: 6 The striker was full of running but looked short of confidence. His pace troubled Spurs but his finishing did not. Unfortunate to hit the bar from close range. 1/23 Hugo Lloris: 6 Did not have many saves to make but difficult to criticise. Kicked well and provided a safe pair of hands when called upon. 2/23 Kyle Walker: 6 A typically hit and miss display from the full back. Sloppy in possession on occasion but also in key defensive positions on others. 3/23 Toby Alderweireld: 6 Coped well under intense pressure when in possession but was unsure of himself when Origi attacked with pace. Getty 4/23 Jan Vertonghen: 6 Calm and composed in possession, the Belgian marshalled his back line well and ensured that Spurs were not overrun. 5/23 Danny Rose: 7 Had the look of a man determined to cement his place in the side. Excellent delivery into the area and caused Milner plenty of problems. Tom Dulat/Getty Images 6/23 Dele Alli: 7 Continues to impress. Nothing seems to faze the newly capped England international. 7/23 Mousa Dembele: 7 Dembele impressed in the central role coming for the suspended Eric Dier, breaking up play and moving possession quickly for Spurs. Clive Brunskill/Getty Images 8/23 Nacer Chadli: N/A Withdrawn early on through injury. 9/23 Christian Eriksen: 7 An excellent display, the Dane's vision in the final third is exemplary. Can find Kane's run like no-one else in Tottenham's side. Ian Walton/Getty Images 10/23 Erik Lamela: 7 Boundless energy was combined with a real grit by the Argentine. He was never shy to get stuck in and embodies Pochettino's high pressing system. Julian Finney/Getty Images 11/23 Harry Kane: 6 Isolated at times, but relished the battle with Liverpool's central defenders. Could have made more of the few sights of goal that he had. Tom Dulat/Getty Images 12/23 Clinton N'Jie: 7 The forward had two superb opportunities and proved to be a constant menace for the Liverpool backline. His best display for Spurs yet. 13/23 Simon Mignolet: 6 A hit and miss display from the goalkeeper. Careless kicking contrasted with fine reflex saves. If he could iron out such inconsistencies he would be a fine goalkeeper. Getty 14/23 Nathaniel Clyne: 5 Struggled to cope with N'Jie's footwork at times but was not entirely overrun by his opposite number. Held his own. Getty 15/23 Martin Skrtel: 6 Caught out on a couple of occasions but made sure Kane could not get a foothold in the game. Fought for every ball like it was the last. Getty 16/23 Mamadou Sakho: 7 Constantly in the right place at the right time, the Frenchman made a series of crucial blocks. Passed well. Getty 17/23 Alberto Moreno: 5 Can neglect his defensive duties when he gets caught up in an attack. Needs to have more composure in his own third and when in possession. Getty 18/23 Emre Can: 7 Very fired up early on, Can relished his midfield role and his high energy pressing will have him endeared him to countryman Klopp. Getty 19/23 Lucas Leiva: 5 The Brazilian will struggle to command a place in the side once everyone is fit. Getty 20/23 James Milner: 5 In the wars for most of the game, Milner was treated to some rough treatment but also dished out a bit of his own. Getty 21/23 Adam Lallana: 6 Fortunate that his error did not gift Spurs a goal in the first half. Although guilty of errors in possession he threatened in the final third but could not find a breakthrough. Getty 22/23 Philippe Coutinho: 6 The onus was on the Brazilian to create and he drifted across the front line into some encouraging positions but did not provide the moment of magic that he is commonly associated with. Getty 23/23 Divock Origi: 6 The striker was full of running but looked short of confidence. His pace troubled Spurs but his finishing did not. Unfortunate to hit the bar from close range.

Lamela is one of only three players still at Tottenham of the seven who were signed in the summer of 2013, following Gareth Bale’s world-record departure to Real Madrid for £86m.

More than £100m was spent in that transfer window yet four of the men signed then – Roberto Soldado, Paulinho, Etienne Capoue and Vlad Chiriches – left the club last summer.

Even though Lamela has struggled for consistency, he crowned a fine display with a goal in the 4-1 win over Manchester City and also scored in the Europa League matches against Qarabag and Monaco. Lamela’s time at Tottenham is still known best for the remarkable ‘rabona’ goal he scored against Greek club Asteras Tripolis in the Europa League a year ago. Yet it is only in the early weeks of this season that Lamela has shown consistency.

“We are looking for a place in the top four,” he continued. “Sometimes we show that we are a strong team, but now [after three draws] we need to start winning again. I’m looking to score more goals. I feel able to play anywhere the manager requires and to do the work that he asks of me.”