Sign up to FREE email alerts from Football London - Spurs Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Jose Mourinho had initially said that Tottenham Hotspur did not need to sign any players in the January transfer window but injuries, potential departures and the team's struggles could change that.

Spurs have not been the most eager of January movers in recent years. During Mauricio Pochettino's reign, Lucas Moura was the only player signed during the winter window ready to go straight into the first team set-up.

His successor made a big point during the early weeks of his reign of saying that he did not want any transfers this month because he simply needed to get to know the players at his disposal.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

However, many of those players are spending more time in Tottenham's treatment room than on the pitch.

Mourinho is currently without Harry Kane, Hugo Lloris, Tanguy Ndombele, Moussa Sissoko, Ben Davies and Danny Rose, many of those key names facing weeks or months on the sidelines.

There is also the prospect of departures from the club with Christian Eriksen and Victor Wanyama linked with moves away while Kyle Walker-Peters has been mooted to head out on loan with Jack Clarke and Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Mourinho suggested that Spurs would be reactive rather than proactive in the transfer window, looking to replace any players who headed out the exit door.

With chairman Daniel Levy admitting at the club Christmas party that a top four spot and silverware were on his festive wishlist from Mourinho's first season, he is going to have to help the manager out with a new face or two.

Let's look at the areas of the team where Levy might have to get the chequebook out for and those he won't.

Goalkeeper

This is an area of the team that is more likely to be looked at properly in the summer.

Hugo Lloris is expected to return from his elbow injury next month and how he responds to being back in the action could dictate what happens next summer.

However for now, with Paulo Gazzaniga between the sticks until Lloris' return, the cover from veteran Michel Vorm until the end of the season and young keepers Alfie Whiteman and Brandon Austin tied down to new deals, a goalkeeping transfer is not a priority.

Full-back

This is one area of the team where a departure could signal some movement.

At right-back Serge Aurier does not appear to be heading out of the club, despite his inconsistent form and desire to leave Tottenham last summer.

However, Walker-Peters needs game time and does not appear to have convinced Mourinho of his claims as of yet, coupled with his recent injury.

He has long needed a loan spell and could finally get his wish next month if the club believe that can bring in a replacement of the required quality.

Mourinho has said that Juan Foyth can play at right-back but would not bring the attacking attributes he wants to the role.

Bringing in a new right-back would provide the manager with a viable alternative to Aurier, to either replace him or push the Ivorian into more consistent displays.

Spurs are among those eyeing up Norwich's 20-year-old Max Aarons and while the defender is mooted to have a price tag of around £30m he fits the profile of a Levy signing, with plenty of potential and a value that is unlikely to drop in the coming years.

Left-back provides more options with Jan Vertonghen and Ryan Sessegnon playing there in recent weeks with Rose and Davies to return and is unlikely to be an area of movement this month.

(Image: Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Centre-back

Despite the woes in defence for Spurs, this could be - similar to the goalkeeping department - an area of the pitch that is looked at in more depth in the summer.

Much depends on whether Mourinho sees Davinson Sanchez and Foyth as part of his long-term planning for the club. He has already said that Foyth is going nowhere this month before dropping him after his mistake against Norwich.

Eric Dier has played a couple of matches at the back so far under Mourinho.

Toby Alderweireld's future has finally been resolved but Vertonghen's has not and his below par displays this season are not helping his cause.

Tottenham will require fresh blood in the centre of defence going forward, but unless Vertonghen were to suddenly depart this month, it's unlikely to arrive before the summer.

(Image: (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images))

Central midfield

The addition of an experienced defensive midfielder to add another option to that of Dier could be on the cards, especially if Wanyama does finally move on and add some funds to the coffers.

Mourinho made it clear when he first arrived at Spurs that he wanted to play with a holding player and a passer in the centre of the pitch. He hasn't actually been able to do that too much in recent weeks.

Injuries have not helped his options with Ndombele struggling to shake off a groin problem while Moussa Sissoko has joined him in the treatment room with no timeframe on his return.

Harry Winks picked up an ankle knock on Sunday and is lacking in confidence after dropping out the line-up in the Premier League.

Oliver Skipp potentially head out on loan but at just 19-years-old and a rarity in being homegrown, Mourinho might keep the teenager around to learn from those inside the club.

Wanyama's departure could free up a spot for another holding player, although any thoughts of bringing in the experience of Nemanja Matic from Manchester United look to have been quashed by the injury to Scott McTominay which is expected to keep the young midfielder out until potentially March.

(Image: ANP Sport via Getty Images)

Attacking midfield

Any movement in this department will depend on whether Christian Eriksen is still wearing a Tottenham Hotspur shirt in February.

Reports in Denmark claim that the player and the club are edging towards a January exit to Inter Milan.

While that would suit Spurs in terms of getting some money for a player who looks certain to leave the club, it would mean they would need to replace someone who has got game time in all but two of the matches in Mourinho's tenure so far and has played every minute of the past three matches.

There is also Giovani Lo Celso. The Argentine has shown glimpses of what he can provide and could well fill the hole left by a potential Eriksen departure which his ability to play deeper in midfield as well as further up the pitch.

Spurs are expected to pay the lower price this month to make the 23-year-old's move permanent of £27m rather than £34m in the summer. If the club achieve Levy and Mourinho's aim of reaching the top four then Lo Celso's move would automatically become permanent for £34m at that point.

However, if Eriksen does move on then Spurs are likely to need another playmaker to complement Lo Celso as they have struggled in that department this season.

Tottenham could do a lot worse than looking at Ajax star Hakim Ziyech, who has been linked with a move away from the Dutch side for just £30m this month.

Former Spurs boss Martin Jol told football.london in the summer that the 26-year-old would be a perfect fit for his old club after starring in Ajax's Champions League run to the semi-finals.

Since then the Moroccan has racked up 21 assists and eight goals himself for the Dutch giants and would certainly add creativity and guile to Tottenham's side, but would they want to get into a battle for his services with the likes of Arsenal and potentially Manchester United.

Thomas Lemar is someone Spurs have tracked for some time but could not compete for his services when he moved to Atletico Madrid.

His struggles in Spain could open that door again for the north London outfit but even on a loan to buy arrangement, he will not come cheap.

(Image: Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Striker

Perhaps Tottenham's biggest transfer failing this season was in not finding a replacement for the outgoing Fernando Llorente in the summer.

While the Spaniard was not exactly a goal machine, he provided a focal point for Spurs when Kane was out and allowed other to come into play and score the goals, the likes of Son Heung-min and Lucas Moura benefiting the most rather than having to play in an ill-fitting striker role themselves.

With Kane's current hamstring injury, the lack of cover in the striker department is even more glaring.

Troy Parrott has plenty of potential but at just 17-years-old is not seen as ready to step into Kane's boots just yet by Mourinho.

The problem for Spurs when it comes to signing forwards remains the same. They struggle to attract big name strikers because they know that Kane will always be first choice and the club do not play with two up front.

That means they have to look at either young players or experienced pros rather than ready made pros, or target a versatile striker who can also play out wide.

While a move for a young superstar like Timo Werner would tick all the boxes, the freescoring 23-year-old Leipzig star would cost big money this window as a reported release clause only applies to next summer's window.

Werner has also indicated that he wants to win the Bundesliga this season with his club and has scotched any transfer talk until after Euro 2020. There would also be an auction for his services with many clubs watching his progress with envious eyes.

The other option is an older player, one who would not particularly excite the fans but would, like Llorente, do the job. If Spurs could get one who is also versatile then they are killing two birds with one stone.

Spurs have watched Dries Mertens for years. Could the Napoli attacker, who can play up front or out wide, finally at 32-years-old become a real target for them? His contract is up in the summer so he is likely to be available on the cheap this month and he could add some experience in the forward areas.

Alternatively, there is another Belgian, a certain former Mourinho man, currently out in China. While signing Marouane Fellaini, also 32, wouldn't be seen as the sexiest of moves by the fans, he could perform the Llorente role up front as a target man and also provide another defensive midfield option alongside Dier.

Both would be short term moves for the club, something they rarely do, but could do a job for Mourinho and the team in the mean time.