Tottenham to allow Lucas Moura to leave on a free in summer with star able to talk to clubs in January transfer window
TOTTENHAM have decided against triggering the option on Lucas Moura's contract which would have extended his stay beyond the summer.
Spurs had the chance to keep the Brazilian until summer 2024 but opted not to activate it.
He can now speak to foreign clubs over a pre-contract agreement for next season and has been linked with a return to his homeland.
Moura, 30, joined from Paris Saint-Germain for £25million five years ago and has racked up 213 appearances for the North Londoners.
His most famous moment came when he scored a second-half hat-trick at Ajax to send Spurs through to the final of the Champions League in 2019.
But the forward has been plagued with a tendon problem this season, with his only starts coming against Sporting Lisbon and Marseille in the Champions League.
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Boss Antonio Conte spoke about the extent of Moura’s injury issues last month, saying: “He is struggling a lot to find a solution.
“It’s a difficult situation because I have a good player in my squad but he’s never available. It’s like you don’t have him.
“It’s a pity because we are talking about a good player, a good guy, but he is struggling a lot to solve this problem.”
Aston Villa wanted Moura last summer and made a last-ditch attempt to sign him on deadline day.
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But Moura was the one who rejected an approach from the Villans.
He is also believed to have said no to Newcastle.
Sao Paulo have also been linked with a move to Moura and the forward is believed keen on a return to his childhood team.
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Reports claimed he is in talks to join the Brazilian outfit, which he first joined as a 13-year-old.
He has scored 38 goals for Tottenham.
