Tottenham eyeing English winger and have transfer war chest but striker haunted by World Cup miss more realistic target
SPURS are facing a big window to give Ange Postecoglou the help he needs after so many of his first team have been laid low with injury.
His defence has been decimated with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario out until late February with a fractured ankle.
While centre-backs Cristiano Romero, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies are not scheduled to return until the end of this month.
But they have had issues in attacking positions too with Richarlison missing for most of the season, while youngsters Wilson Odobert and Mikey Moore have also been absent.
What do Tottenham need?
The first need has been addressed: they have brought in a new goalkeeper.
And not just a back-up, but someone who is ready to challenge Vicario for a starting spot right now, in the form of Czech rising star Antonin Kinsky.
The 21-year-old joined from Slavia Prague for £12.5million plus add-ons and signed a six-and-a-half-year deal.
He went straight into the side for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at home to Liverpool and was hugely impressive as he kept a clean sheet on his debut.
But Spurs are looking at more signings this month, whether that be on loan or permanent.
Centre-back and up top are two key areas, and in a perfect world they would like a wideman too.
Destiny Udogie’s long-term hamstring issue means they are short at left-back as well.
Young South Korean winger Yang Min-hyeok, 18, was signed in the summer but has only just arrived at the club, though his focus right now is on adapting to his new environment.
Who is the perfect buy?
Spurs like Jamie Gittens, the 20-year-old English winger making waves at Borussia Dortmund.
The former Manchester City academy starlet came on in last season’s Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid.
And this term he has been a regular starter with nine goals in 18 starts in all competitions.
He would be just the kind of player to add some star quality to the left-hand side of Spurs’ attack, where Son Heung-min has sparkled for so long but this term has largely faded.
But the England Under-21 man, previously known as Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, would be very expensive.
Dortmund are sixth in a congested Bundesliga but are still very much in the hunt to finish in the top eight of the Champions League table phase.
While the chances of them selling two wingers in one window seems slim, given team-mate Donyell Malen could leave for Aston Villa.
Who is more realistic?
Randal Kolo Muani is on the market at Paris Saint-Germain with the striker – best known for his 2022 World Cup final miss – available on loan.
The France international, 26, could not get into the team when Kylian Mbappe was there and now is struggling for game-time as Luis Enrique prefers a false nine.
Eight goals in 27 games for his country underlines his talent though and Postecoglou has already spoken publicly of how he needs to bring in another forward.
You cannot blame him given Richarlison’s fitness had proved unreliable during his time at the club since joining from Everton for £60m in 2022.
Muani has other suitors though, including Juventus and in the Bundesliga – though SunSport understands Chelsea are NOT interested.
Spurs could make a compelling case for the former Eintracht Frankfurt man, who can also play out wide.
They are also believed to like the look of current Eintracht goal-getter Omar Marmoush but he looks to be heading to Manchester City.
Tottenham could also move for young Irish striker Mason Melia, 17, who has shown big potential and will likely leave St Patrick’s Athletic this month.
At the back, they have been credited with an interest in Uzbeki speedy centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov, who looks set to depart Lens in the winter window.
How are the finances looking?
Strong. Chairman Daniel Levy cops flak from supporters regularly, particularly when results are poor as they have been of late.
But the supremo can claim to have no profit and sustainability compliance issues, unlike other clubs.
It means money is there to be spent in this window if they want to.
Could anyone be on their way out?
Being so stretched right now, it is more about adding players than losing them.
Sergio Reguilon, 28, is out of contract in the summer and was expected to move on this month.
Although even that may not be definite now given Udogie is expected to be out for another six weeks.
If they get the right players through the door, youngsters like Will Lankshear and Alfie Dorrington could be loaned out to gain experience.
If everything went to plan, how could Tottenham line up after the January window?