Sky Sports News assistant editor Lyall Thomas has identified four targets Tottenham are considering to help reinforce their midfield, and has predicted they could be forced into the market this January.
Spurs have been left understaffed in the middle of the park, with Eric Dier and Victor Wanyama out injured, and Moussa Dembele out of contract at the end of the season.
The shortage of bodies could force Mauricio Pochettino to move for an extra midfielder during January.
Writing in a column evaluating the upcoming window for Sky Sports, Thomas outlined the four players Spurs could look to bring in.
He said: “Tottenham need to move players out in order to bring any in, having submitted their Premier League squad a man short due to only having seven of the eight homegrown players required.
“Midfield is the area they are thought to be looking at most closely. They have been scouting for long-term replacements for Mousa Dembele, who is also out of contract at the end of the season, over the last 18 months and injuries to him, Victor Wanyama and Eric Dier could force them into the market next month.
“They like players such as Abdoulaye Doucoure, Tanguy N’Dombele, Amadou Haidara and Donny van der Beek, and should they move on either Georges-Kevin N’Koudou or Fernando Llorente, then a space would open up for a non-homegrown player to come in.”
OPINION
A lot of pundits have spoken about Spurs’ mentality and attitude, and how they could be the stumbling blocks that prevent them from mounting a serious title challenge, but a much more pertinent issue is their lack of strength and depth in midfield. Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko have done a decent enough job so far, but have the distinct feeling of a makeshift pairing, and it’s only a matter of time before they get seriously found out against one of the big teams. Manchester City’s recent mini-capitulation during the absence of Fernandinho has highlighted just how crucial a top class defensive midfielder can be to a title challenge, and Spurs will be keen to find their own carbon copy of the Brazilian. The issue they will have, as they always do when they go into the market, will be attracting players while adhering to their financial conservatism, but the lure of a new stadium, and of Pochettino, could be enough to snap up the ideal candidate. After fans were expecting another disappointing and quiet window, this is one prediction they will love – and hope comes true.