Our Tottenham supporters in the Football Transfer Tavern are still kicking themselves regarding just how they let Arsenal back in to claim a 1-1 draw at Emirates Stadium in the North London Derby last Sunday.
Having totally dominated the first hour of the spicy fixture, Mauricio Pochettino refused to be negative in his post-match interviews but he’ll know that Spurs should’ve left the home of their great rivals victorious.
That said, alongside Leicester City, Tottenham have lost the fewest number of games in the top flight so far this season and that is a huge credit to their defensive organisation with Toby Alderweireld and Dele Alli looking like inspired signings.
With Chelsea having gone off the boil dramatically to boot, it finally looks as if Tottenham could easily claim a spot in the Premier League’s top four this season. It’s just a case of completing the job this season.
Despite going great guns right now, Tottenham still boast one of the most tight-knit groups of players in the Premier League so when injuries strike, Pochettino has to use the likes of academy products Harry Winks and Josh Onomah instead of established stand-ins.
A few more additions in the January transfer window could help Spurs’ cause in regards to claiming a Champions League spot and if Tottenham get their hands on any of these five players in our shortlist, perhaps they can even do better than fourth place this term?
[ffc-gallery]
Click on the image below to reveal the players that should be on Mauricio Pochettino’s January wishlist.
[/ffc-gallery]
Demarai Gray
At the end of October, The Sun proceeded with a story that claimed Tottenham were leading the way in a three-way fight to land Birmingham City’s prized asset Demarai Gray.
With Everton and Leicester City representing the other keen parties, Birmingham have come out and claimed time and again that they want Gray to continue his development with them but money talks nowadays and we’re sure that Spurs could make the Blues sweat in January.
It is believed that Gray’s buy-out clause stands between £3.75 million and £5 million and that’s surely great value for a player who like Dele Alli has been tipped to reach the very top.
Given Alli’s remarkable rise to prominence this season, this will inspire other young players such as Gray that Tottenham are among the best options to receive regular playing time in the Premier League ahead of schedule.
With Andros Townsend linked with a departure after a breach of club discipline to boot, Gray could be an ideal replacement for the England international.
Saido Berahino
With Metro reporting that West Bromwich Albion’s Saido Berahino is stalling on a new contract at The Hawthorns, it appears the transfer rumours could all be circulating around the England Under-21 international again come the re-opening of the transfer window in the New Year.
Depending on where Albion sit in January, perhaps Baggies chairman Jeremy Peace could finally award Berahino his big move to Spurs having got another five months out of the striker and with Salomon Rondon having done well since his club record arrival, Berahino isn’t as important as he was last season.
You feel Tottenham will need to flirt around the £20 million mark to get Albion sweating again but the addition of Berahino to lighten the scoring burden from Harry Kane could really give Spurs a second wind heading into the business end of 2015/16.
And after all, qualification to the Champions League is priceless.
Andy Najar
While Erik Lamela has been improving this term and new signing Heung-Min Son can also play on the wing, Tottenham have been linked with Anderlecht’s Andy Najar earlier this month.
The Honduras international played against Spurs during Tottenham’s win over Anderlecht on November 5th but prior to this, the North Londoners have been interested in the player.
Just 22-years-old, Najar is pretty experienced despite his age and actually started out at DC United in Major League Soccer where he racked up 82 appearances between 2010 and 2013.
Going onto that next level in his career having played in the Champions League against Arsenal last season with the Belgian giants, Anderlecht are still a relative minnow in relation to bigger clubs around Europe and you’d imagine that a substantial bid for Najar might get them thinking.
As mentioned on our Demarai Gray slide, if the inconsistent Andros Townsend is allowed a departure in January, perhaps Najar could be a decent replacement.
Islam Slimani
If you trawl the web, there have been a few reports linking Sporting Lisbon’s Algerian international striker Islam Slimani with Tottenham of late.
With this rumour having been sparked by German publication BILD, you can see why Mauricio Pochettino would be interested in landing a new striker with just Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son and Clinton N’Jie being capable of playing up top at present.
With the latter two players not out-and-out forwards to boot, signing a true number nine such as Slimani would give Tottenham a greater potency up top.
Boasting a goalscoring record of 25 Primeira Liga strikes in 54 appearances for the Portuguese giants since signing in 2013, Slimani’s prowess in front of goal is clear.
It would just remain to be seen whether he could transfer this prolific form to a superior division in the shape and form of the Premier League.
A few of our Lilywhites regulars still remember Helder Postiga who in brutal honesty, still haunts them after massively flopping in North London.
Ayoze Perez
Newcastle United’s Ayoze Perez appears to be at the centre of a huge transfer tug of war between Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham right now.
Undoubtedly one of the Magpies’ most consistent performers, the Spaniard struck the solitary goal to give Steve McClaren’s men a vital three points away at AFC Bournemouth last weekend but even last season when the going got tough under John Carver, he was one of few bright spots in an otherwise dim period.
With the Tynesiders seemingly set up for another season of battling survival this term, surely a cheeky January bid from Spurs would at least get Mike Ashley thinking?
While the Geordie nation would be left absolutely fuming if the club cashed in on Ayoze, Newcastle have sold off Yohan Cabaye and Mathieu Debuchy previously and to sign another forward such as the Spaniard would give Tottenham much-needed greater depth up top.
