There is perhaps no Premier League team in greater need of new signings this month than Tottenham, who have been plagued by injuries, especially in defence.
Ange Postecoglou promised silverware in his second season, just as he usually brings to a club, and although they have reached a cup semi-final for the first time in three years, the Australian may need some reinforcement to go further – not least as their last four opponents are Liverpool.
There's also a Europa League campaign to embark on with Spurs just outside the top eight of the table, a place that would guarantee them safe passage to the last 16, and an FA Cup trip starting next week at no -League Tamworth.
So who could arrive and where can we strengthen Spurs' ranks? And will their biggest addition be the massive ranks occupying the treatment room?
Here, as part of our series on Premier League clubs' January transfer plans, our Spurs expert Matt Barlow answers the five big questions.
1. What does Tottenham need?
Most urgently, they could use some more firepower up front and a defender. They could also look at short-term cover at goalkeeper and centre-back.
Although much will depend on the recovery assessments of their injuries in the coming weeks. Postecoglou talks as if someone is hedging his bets, because he hopes that players like Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Richarlison will be fit again soon.
But can he trust that they will all stay fit until the end of the season? Probably not with Tottenham's current injury record.
Postecoglou wants more depth in the team. Cover and options from the bench, which will likely mean creative loan deals and/or continued investment in young talent to develop in the form of Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Wilson Odobert, rather than big money splashes to improve the first team.
2. Do they have money to spend?
There are no major PSR concerns at Tottenham, but the watchword regarding transfers in recent press conferences with Postecoglou is 'discipline'.
There have also been warnings that this year would be tougher than usual due to the new format in Europe and with two draws in the Champions League and Europa League there are clubs holding on to players when they would have been willing to sell or out borrow if they had done so. has been outside European competition.
In addition, because there is no international summer tournament, there is not the same pressure from individual players to take steps to win places in the squads.
I expect Spurs to perform as they have in the last few spells, looking mainly to young players and short-term solutions with greater investment and potential improvements in the first team that will likely wait until the summer of 2025.
3. Which players are they interested in?
With Spurs it's easier to talk about the ones they already have coming as they've made a few signings that will boost them in 2025.
Yang Min-Hyeok is a player who will arrive and be added to the roster.
Yang is an 18-year-old winger who scored a dozen goals last season and won the Young Player of the Year award in South Korea's K-League. Tottenham signed him from Gangwon in July but agreed to let him complete the K-League season before making the move to London in mid-December, and he will register in the new year.
Luka Vskovic is a 17-year-old central defender who was acquired from Hadjuk Split in 2023. Vskovic is 1.80 meters tall and is on loan in Belgium to Westerlo, for whom he has been a constant presence and has scored six goals.
He is expected to join Spurs next summer and the club's wealth of emerging talent is one of the reasons why the club will not commit to a glut of experienced players on long-term, expensive contracts in the same positions.
4. Who could leave?
Sergio Reguilon is out of contract at the end of the season and will be sold if they can find a buyer. Even a massive injury crisis hasn't revived his Tottenham career.
It was his first Spurs appearance in two years and eight months when he came off the bench in the 89th minute of the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Manchester United in December.
Richarlison wishes they could secure a decent fee, but that will be harder than ever after his absence in the first half of the season. He turned down a move to Saudi Arabia in the summer.
Timo Werner is another option, if they can negotiate their way out of the loan deal with RB Leipzig and bring in a replacement.
5. What unexpected moves should fans keep an eye on?
A smart move for that old favorite Internal Solutions. At 17, Mikey Moore is a precocious talent on the wing, but almost as soon as he burst onto the scene this season he contracted a virus and hasn't been seen since late October.
He should return soon and will provide a vital injection of energy and speed to a side that has been on its feet, with ailments preventing Postecoglou from rotating at a time when the fixture list was at its busiest.
Other young academy players Will Lankshear and Alfie Dorrington are likely to get their chances if the injury crisis continues, even if they are not as highly rated.
Odobert, the £25million summer signing, should finally be able to make his mark soon when he returns from a hamstring injury that has kept him out even longer than Moore.
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