Lewis Holtby Prepared to Leave Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Lewis Holtby has admitted he could leave White Hart Lane before the end of the summer transfer window after being overlooked for much of the new season.

Holtby has featured for just 107 minutes across Spurs' opening four games of the campaign, making only a cameo appearance in the Europa League win over AEL Limassol on Thursday.

The 23 year old played a major role during Tottenham's pre-season fixtures but his omission during a start to the campaign which has included four successive wins has infuriated the player.

"We're just going to have to see what happens in the next few days and weeks," Holtby, who has made 21 league starts in over 18 months in north London, told t-online.de.

"I'm a young player and I want to be playing all the time. That's very important for me, for my development and for my career.

"Preferably, I would stay here with Tottenham of course and that's why I really hope that I get a chance."

Bundesliga club Hamburg have made no secret of their desire to sign the Germany international, who joined Tottenham in January 2013 from Schalke 04.

Manager Hamburger Adenblatt said: "I'd be lying if I said we have nothing to do with Holtby. We need to allow for all possibilities. Holtby is a good, young and German player, who does not win a lot of minutes at Tottenham."

Midfielder Rafael van der Vaart, the former Tottenham player, added: "Holtby would be a great addition. It would be great if that would work. Lewis is flexible, he has great qualities."

Having been a peripheral figure under Andre Villas-Boas and Tim Sherwood, five successive appearances in pre-season – including two goals – had led to suggestions Holtby would play a central role for the club.

However, that has not yet materialised with Christian Eriksen and Nacer Chadli seemingly ahead in the pecking order but his agent Marcus Noack said at the start of the term: "Lewis is optimistic about the future at Spurs.

"There is a new manager there now which means it's a fresh start for him and a fresh start for everyone.

"He is happy at Tottenham and has a good feeling there. He wants to stay and prove himself and be part of the team."