Erik Lamela joined Tottenham from Roma in the summer Photo: The Sport Review

Erik Lamela admits he will need some time to settle into life in London following his summer move to Tottenham from Roma.

The 21-year-old became Spurs’ club-record singing as the north London club splashed out £30m to bring the Argentina international to White Hart Lane in August.

Lamela was an unused substitute as Tottenham played out a 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Saturday, with the forward having made four appearances for Andre Villas-Boas’ men so far this term.

“Cars on the opposite side of the street seems strange to me but I am still in a phase where London is new,” Lamela told the Sunday People.

“London is a beautiful city with many places of interest, but I am a player and is not easy to fit in too much tourism.

“I am still adapting to life in London but England was always a country that interested me. That is on a personal level, and at Spurs I am working to be one of the first names in the starting XI. That is my big objective.”

Speaking earlier this month, Spurs boss Villas-Boas revealed that Lamela’s versatility was one of the reasons he swooped for the forward.

“He’s played different positions up front from a young age,” said Villas-Boas.

“When he left River Plate he was playing behind the striker. The first year in Roma, on the left. And then he was on the right side.

“All of this experience that he has in these three positions allow us to play him on the right or the left, so we have the solutions because the player is very creative.”