Tottenham considering move for West Ham United playmaker Manuel Lanzini

Tottenham Hotspur are considering a move for West Ham United playmaker and mooted Liverpool target Manuel Lanzini in the January transfer window with Mauricio Pochettino keen to lure his revered compatriot away from his club's bitter rivals, who are in the midst of a relegation battle.

Lanzini has performed impressively since arriving in east London from Al-Jazira on loan in the summer of 2015 but has failed to build up a head of steam during the campaign, missing eight games with two separate injuries as the Hammers' season swiftly capitulated into a dogfight.

West Ham's plight under Slaven Bilic and David Moyes seems to have stifled progress in negotiations over a new contract worth £85,000-a-week for Lanzini, who was reportedly on Liverpool's radar in the summer as the Reds devised contingency plans for the potential sale of Philippe Coutinho, who ultimately remained at Anfield.

Liverpool's apparent interest seems to have sated in recent months but Tottenham are still keen on pilfering West Ham's prized asset, according to ESPN, with Pochettino keen to add more creativity and verve to his side which has faltered in recent weeks.

The return of Erik Lamela from troublesome hip problems should inject Tottenham with some added flair ahead of a gruelling festive period. The former Roma wonderkid provided an assist for Harry Kane just seconds after being introduced as a late substitute during Spurs' 2-1 defeat by Leicester City in midweek. But Pochettino is allegedly scouring the market for fresh attacking impetus and a player to relieve the strain placed on Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli, who is yet to find his best form this season.

Lanzini's current contract with West Ham expires in 2020, and Moyes' men will be more than reluctant to entertain offers for the 24-year-old in the January transfer window. The Hammers will presumably be more preoccupied with bringing in new recruits to aid them in their quest for Premier League survival, rather than offloading their best players.

Lanzini may well be of interest to members of the Premier League's top six such as Liverpool and Tottenham but his primary focus currently rests on matters concerning West Ham, who will look to pick themselves up from their heavy defeat by Everton with a daunting trip to face runaway league leaders Manchester City on Saturday [2 December].