Lucas Moura hints at Tottenham Hotspur departure next summer

Lucas Moura has admitted that he could leave Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer next summer.

The Brazilian arrived at Spurs from Paris Saint-Germain in January 2018 and has represented the North London club on 201 occasions in all competitions, contributing 38 goals and 27 assists in the process.

Last term, the 29-year-old featured on 45 occasions, providing six goals and eight assists, including two goals and six assists in 34 Premier League appearances.

Lucas fell down the pecking order in the second half of last season, though, with Dejan Kulusevski largely featuring alongside Harry Kane and Son Heung-min in the final third of the field.

Tottenham are planning more attacking additions this summer, which could further limit the South American's football during the 2022-23 campaign.

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Lucas's existing deal at Spurs is due to run until June 2023, with the option of a further 12 months.

The attacker has conceded that the 2022-23 campaign could be his last season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as he could potentially become a free agent next summer.

"The idea is to fulfil the contract. It has one more year, with the option of one more, on the part of the club," Lucas told journalist Andre Hernan. "So at the end of this season now, if the club wants to extend another year, they have that option.

"But my idea is this. Finalising the contract, playing in the Champions League, we haven't played the Champions League for two years, and now it could be, perhaps, my last Champions League there at Tottenham. So then the idea is to stay there, fulfil the contract, then be free, then decide where I'm going."

Lucas only started five matches after the January transfer window, while he did not score in the Premier League in the second half of the season, with his last goal coming against Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.

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Tottenham finished fourth in the Premier League last season to secure a return to the Champions League for the 2022-23 campaign.

Spurs have already boosted their squad this summer with the arrivals of Yves Bissouma, Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster, and more signings are expected before the end of the window.

Antonio Conte's side are still said to be hopeful of beating Arsenal to the signature of Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus, while talks are said to be progressing over Middlesbrough's Djed Spence.

There has also been speculation over a potential return to the club for Christian Eriksen, but Tottenham are allegedly yet to make an approach for the Denmark international, who is set to be available on a free transfer from Brentford at the end of the month.