Winter Wonders: Transfer Update

We may just be entering the second week of January but already there is an element of impatience around the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The deficiencies in the squad are obvious but will manager Jose Mourinho be able to address these points in the three weeks left in the winter transfer window?

The rumour mills remain in full swing, despite the lack of confirmed activity, so let’s take a moment to consider who may be in the frame.

So Farewell Then?

Christian Eriksen

Christian Eriksen

Will the Christian Eriksen saga finally reach its end this month? Reports of a bid of around £25 million from Inter Milan may have encouraged fans who wanted the Dane out of the door but there are no confirmed news reports as yet. Stories suggest interest from Serie A but as yet, there is nothing concrete on the table.

Other interested parties include Manchester United while the possibility of a switch to Real Madrid isn’t off the table according to updates. It’s a slow and frustrating process but did we really expect anything else?

While the squad may be overdue a major ‘trim’, there are very few suggestions of sales outside of those Christian Eriksen links. There is an isolated rumour that both Manchester clubs are looking at Harry Winks but it seems to have come from nowhere and while fans seem split about his potential, a departure in January seems unlikely to say the least.

Elsewhere, while many will be hoping for stories linking Eric Dier, Serge Aurier and Danny Rose – amongst others – away from Spurs this month, there seems to be nothing doing at this stage.

The Welcome Mat

As for reports of potential arrivals at the new White Hart Lane, it’s a case of not knowing where to begin. Perhaps the desperate need for a pair of full backs means that we should start in defence and the new suggestions of a move for Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell.

This would surely be a welcome move but like most of these stories, does it really hold any weight? The 23 year old England international would command an eye-watering fee, Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers has ruled out any departures in this transfer window and there is reported interest from Chelsea and Manchester City.

Another reported target is that of Vitesse Arnhem defender Max Clark who has developed since switching to the Netherlands from Hull City. Clark is 23 years old and is a former England Under 16 and Under 17 international.

Another new name to emerge this morning is that of Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha. Well, we say this is new but obviously the attacking midfielder has been mentioned in previous windows. The issue is that nobody seems to want to make a committed move for the 27 year old and maybe it’s because the fee continues to be quoted in the region of £80 million.

Harry’s Deputy

Olivier Giroud

Olivier Giroud

The new manager has also inherited the conundrum of Harry Kane. No player has been willing or worthy enough to play as a back up striker since the England captain emerged as our first choice centre forward and when injury strikes, it causes a huge problem. Son Heung-Min has deputised well enough in the past but Jose’s set up seems to make it difficult for the South Korean international to have the same impact.

With a reluctance to give Troy Parrott a run out during our 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough last weekend, it suggests that Mourinho is looking for alternatives and it wasn’t a huge surprise to see us linked with Olivier Giroud. With Chelsea’s transfer embargo lifted, the Frenchman may be allowed to leave this month and Spurs need a striker so the reporters have been doing their sums.

There is a theory that Giroud scores important goals but his tally since arriving at Stamford Bridge sits at five goals in 45 league matches. Admittedly, many of those appearances would have been from the subs bench and his record in Europe is a little better but that’s hardly encouraging.

Elsewhere, some reports are putting Thomas Lemar as a possible striking solution but that’s not a fair comparison. The 24 year old French international plays further down the pitch – as evidenced by his return of 31 goals across a domestic career which currently stands at 282 games.

Brinkmanship

Traditionally, Tottenham are not the type of club that likes to get their business done early and few of us would be surprised if we’re still talking about these players at the very end of this month.

There are many others who have been previously mentioned including the likes of Paulo Dybala and Kalidou Koulibaly but rather than rehash those rumours, it’s interesting to consider the new faces that have been reported in the first week of the month.

For us, the saga rolls on and the long wait to find additions to the squad continues.

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