Tottenham fans in the Football Transfer Tavern were hoping to see Mauricio Pochettino spend some of that reported £60 million transfer kitty before the close of the January transfer window.
However, a £5 million deal for MK Dons wonderkid Delle Ali was the only incoming at White Hart Lane and the 18-year-old will not be able to feature for Spurs until next season, remaining at Stadium:MK with the Dons on loan for the rest of the current 2014/15 campaign.
Mauricio Pochettino has guided Spurs to the final of the Capital One Cup and within touching distance of the top four. The general consensus from Spurs fans in the tavern is that the former Southampton boss is doing a good job in the main, having succeeded Tim Sherwood.
With Harry Kane in the form of his life and having signed a new five-year contract on deadline day, a couple of new additions would have really added to the current feel good factor around White Hart Lane.
Here we have identified the transfer XI they could have had this winter.
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Click on Mauricio Pochettino to reveal the transfer XI Tottenham could’ve had this January.
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Matthew Ryan
Whilst reports over Hugo Lloris leaving the club have died down in recent weeks, prior to the opening of the window there were suggestions Tottenham may have to enter the market for a replacement.
Michel Vorm was signed from Swansea City in the summer, possibly with a view to taking over from the France captain long-term with Lloris having been linked with a move to a Champions League side almost from the moment he has arrived.
Australian number one Matthew Ryan was mentioned as a possible candidate to provide competition for Vorm were Lloris to depart but Tottenham fans are delighted to see he has stayed put – for now at least.
Ron Vlaar, Mateo Musacchio, Benedikt Howedes
The centre back partnership of Federico Fazio and Jan Vertonghen has been positive for Tottenham in recent weeks but the fact they were willing to allow Younes Kaboul and Vlad Chiriches to leave the club on loan before the close of the window suggested Pochettino was on the hunt for defensive reinforcements.
Ron Vlaar’s contractual situation at Aston Villa has seen him linked with a host of Premier League clubs, including Spurs.
German World Cup winner Benedikt Howedes was also linked with Schalke reportedly willing to sell reluctantly for the right price.
Elsewhere, Villarreal’s Argentine centre back Matteo Musacchio was a summer target for Pochettino but the fact North London rivals Arsenal completed the £11 million signing of Gabriel Paulista from the La Liga club meant they were never going to sell last month.
Yevhen Konoplyanka, Morgan Schneiderlin, Fabian Delph, Memphis Depay
With Aaron Lennon leaving for Everton on deadline day, it was surprising to see no replacement brought in. Ukrainian international winger Yevhen Konoplyanka has been linked with a move to White Hart Lane for the best part of 12 months with his contractual situation at current club Dnipro meaning he would be available for just £5 million.
PSV Eindhoven winger Memphis Depay is understood to be another target with the exciting 20-year-old Dutch international winger reportedly keen to move to the Premier League with £15 million said to be enough to secure his services.
Spurs are amongst a host of clubs in the market for a defensive midfielder and stories linking them with a move for Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin have been continuous since the summer.
Aston Villa’s Fabian Delph was also said to be a £4 million target, however the England international surprisingly opted to sign a new contract at Villa Park last month.
Saido Berahino, Jackson Martinez, Jay Rodriguez
The signing of a new striker was seen as the priority for Tottenham fans at least during the last transfer window. However, failure to shift Emmanuel Adebayor means Spurs will have to pray Harry Kane stays fit for the remainder of the season.
West Bromwich Albion’s outspoken striker Saido Berahino did all he could to force a move away from The Hawthorns but Spurs will have to wait until the summer to try and lure the England Under-21 international star to North London.
Likewise with Porto forward Jackson Martinez who is actively seeking a move to the Premier League.
Elsewhere, Southampton forward Jay Rodriguez is a player Pochettino knows well but the fact he is still recovering from a horrific injury suffered at the back end of last season means this is another deal that has had to be put on hold.
