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Defeat at home agains Leicester on Sunday saw Spurs sink to the second bottom position in the form table, picking up just four points in their last 10 games.
It was another abysmal performance from Ange Postecoglou’s side, who now sit just 15th in the Premier League table, just eight points off of the relegation zone and nine away from 10th place Fulham.
Their atrocious form has now prompted a wider discussion around Tottenham up and down the country, with many fans and pundits pointing their fingers in multiple directions. Some foot most of the blame on the door of Daniel Levy for not opening his wallet, as well as Chief Football Officer Scott Munn and Technical Director Johan Lange for not forcing his hand, other than the completion of signing Antonin Kinsky from Sparta Prague three weeks ago.
Others look towards Ange Postecoglou for answers, as it’s his players out on the pitch and it’s his set up hat has steered them into this position. While the former Celtic manager has repeatedly insisted that it’s unfortunate injuries to crucial players like Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, James Maddison, Guglielmo Vicario that means they’re off the pace, his tactical stubbornness means even without their best side, they will continue to play as if they’re still there when they really shouldn’t be- Ben Davies isn’t van de Ven, Lukas Bergvall isn’t Maddison, Archie Gray isn’t Destiny Udogie.
The players that have been regularly available and are normally a shining light for Spurs even when in tough times have also failed to step up and deliver for this season also. Heung-Min Son, despite currently boasting 12 goals and assists in the Premier League, has seen a decrease in form and hasn’t been able to show qualities that made him one of the best attackers in the Premier League in the past decade. This time last year, the South Korean winger was on 15 goals and assists, and will have to improve of he wants to match last year’s tally of 27.
Players like Son, Kulusevski, Bentancur, Porro, and other senior players Spurs cannot simply be ditched though; it’s players like these that despite their form, Spurs fans and players alike will look to for inspiration in the last months of the season. After all, the Lily Whites are leading in a Carabao Cup semi-final, still active in the FA Cup after seeing off Tamworth and are on the cusp of qualifying in the top eight of the Europa league, assuming they beat Swedish side IF Elsfborg on Thursday night. In short, there are still multiple opportunities for a trophy this season.
However, this Spurs side look as though they simply won’t have enough to get any of those three over the line. Even if they advance past Liverpool next week, a ferocious game against bitter rivals Arsenal or Newcastle United await at Wembley. The FA Cup is unpredictable, and banking on a route in that tournament is risky. The Europa League has some excellent sides in it this year, like Lazio, Athletic Club and Galatasaray. It’ll be a tough mountain to climb for this squad.
So what could save their season? It’s a complex question. Problems at Spurs that are being exposed now have been deep rooted for a long time, from the competence of the owners to the culture and attitudes of the players. Fans will pay for one of the most expensive season tickets in Europe, with little to show for it, especially this season. In the short term though, it may not be too late in this window to help Spurs get back on track this season.
While it’s unlikely Tottenham will be making major moves in the window now given their inactivity in the past three weeks since signing Kinsky, perhaps looking at what COULD be done could help point them in the right direction- a direction that could point towards finally lifting some silverware.
Signing 1- Douglas Luiz
Spurs are lacking depth and quality all over the pitch at the minute, but adding a midfielder in the final days of the window could help add a healthy beating heart into this side that lacks energy, steel, and experience.
Former Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz has found game time difficult to come by this season at Juventus, starting just four games and playing 592 minutes. The Brazilian has consistently been linked away from Italy this January, linked to the likes of Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Arsenal.
Permanent moves may be difficult to materialise this window, so a loan move for Luiz would be a perfect deal for all parties as of right now. He racked up over 150 appearances for Aston Villa during his time at the club, so would bring a wealth of valuable Premier League experience to the Spurs midfield.
A great ball carrier with a great creative mind (as most Brazilians have), Luiz also possesses great defensive capabilities, partnering with Boubacar Kamara last season to help Villa get Champions League football.
Signing 2- Oliver Boscagli
Recent reports suggest Spurs are prioritising a striker signing ahead of a centre half signing. Really, both should be as high as each other on the list, as Richarlison and Werner struggle to sufficiently cover Dominic Solanke when he’s injured, which is unfortunately a regular occurrence. Here, the centre half that should be prioritised is PSV defender Oliver Boscagli.
Boscagli broke through at Nice almost 10 years ago now, debuting for the French side in April 2015. After failing to find regular game time there, he moved to PSV in 2019 for four million euros. Since then, Boscagli has gone from strength to strength with the Dutch outfit, playing a crucial role in their Eredivisie title win last season and when they won the KNVB Cup in 2023.
The Frenchman operates on the left hand side of the backline, able to fill in at left back if necessary. Spurs have been crying out for a left-sided centre half for years, as Welsh defender Ben Davies has entered the twilight years of his career and has suffered a drop off in form. He turns 32 in April.
PSV have been happy to sell big players to England in January before, as former star man Cody Gakpo joined Liverpool in January 2023, with Noni Madueke departing for Chelsea in the same month.
Signing 3- Jonathan David
The peculiar case of Jonathan David continues to provide a story every January transfer window for a whole host of teams. Strong, clinical, pacey, hard-working, young- David has almost everything a side could look for in a striker, and ever since his breakthrough season at Lille in 20/21 where his 15 goals and assists helped them beat PSG to the Ligue 1 title, he’s consistently performed for the French outfit.
He matched his 15 goals and assists in the 21/22 season, despite Lille having a severe drop off and finishing 10th. He exploded in the 22/23 season, almost doubling his tally, finishing on 28 goals and assists this time. In 2024 he was ranked 4th in Europe for goal involvements, finishing on 47 in all competitions, narrowly behind Kylian Mbappe on 48. David has been a constant positive in a Lille side that has finished in the top 5 two seasons in a row now, and are set to do so again this season.
The Canadian striker born in New York has constantly been linked with a move away from the North of France, with many Premier League clubs being linked with his services through the years. At 25, David will shortly be coming to the peak of his powers, building on what is already an excellent player that would provide Postecoglou with two top class options up front.
Lille have always been a great selling club, making over 200 million on major player departures to England in the last five years, with the likes of Nicolas Pepe, Amadou Onana and most recently Leny Yoro departing for English shores for big money.
Though a player like David would normally cost a pretty penny, the striker is yet to sign a new deal with the club, and is available to negotiate a free transfer with other clubs now. Spurs could either acquire his services for the 25/26 season this January, or a cut price deal could be available with Lille as they look to cash in on their top goalscorer.
Signing 4- Dennis Cirkin
Dennis Cirkin has been lighting it up this season in the Championship, as Sunderland remain on the hunt for promotion to end an eight year hiatus from the top flight of English football. The English left-back came through the Spurs academy, but left for Sunderland in summer 2021 in search of first-team football. Since then, he’s adjusted to senior football masterfully, and now is one of best left backs in the Championship.
This season, Cirkin has been a crucial player at the back for Régis Le Bris, averaging 3.13 tackles per 90 and 1.64 interceptions per 90. Regardless of Sunderland’s promotion this season, Cirkin is showing all the qualities of a Premier League full back and could easily come in at Spurs to deputise for Udogie.
The Englishman currently has a deal that expires in 2026, so without a long term contract to negotiate around, Sunderland may be tempted to cash in on the full back, despite the crucial role he plays in the squad and what it could mean for their promotion push. The Black Cats have a historical tendency to sell crucial players in January too, selling Darren Bent in 2011 for £20 million and Patrick Van Aanholt- coincidently, also a crucial left back- to Crystal Palace in 2017.
The signing could give Archie Gray a chance to pick up more minutes in his more natural position in midfield. The young midfielder, signed for £40 million last summer from Leeds, has been forced to play at centre half, right back and most recently left back against Leicester, where he’s naturally struggled despite his excellent versatility.
The signing of Cirkin could also facilitate a move away for Sergio Regulion, who has been out of favour at Spurs for a while following loan stints at Manchester United and Brentford last season. The Spaniard has been linked with moves to Turkey in the past.
Signing 5- Malick Fofana
At just 19 years old, Malick Fofana is one of the best young wingers in Europe at the moment, exciting for a Lyon side burdened with financial problems hanging over the club’s head. Fofana continues to play as if that’s not there though, a refreshing element of his game that makes him so great to watch.
Fofana joined Lyon last summer for £12.6 million last summer from Gent, the Belgian side that has nurtured such talents as Jonathan David, Alexander Sorloth and Taiwo Awoniyi. Since then, Fofana has found his place in the side out on the left, contributing 11 goals and assists so far.
The aforementioned financial problems at Lyon have seen them forced into some flash sales this window, with the likes of Maxence Caqueret, Anthony Lopes and Gift Orban departing club. With he club still in peril, one final sale of Fofana could help Lyon steer clear of more trouble, whilst Spurs pick up a great new understudy to an ageing Heung-Min Son.
Despite Fofana’s clear talent at such a young age, the potential of his signing could raise questions around the future of Mikey Moore at the club. The young Welshman is the youngest-ever player to feature for Spurs in the Premier League, making his debut last May against Manchester City. This season, he’s played 358 minutes for Postecoglou’s side, picking up two assists and making himself a fan favourite for his hard work and clear talent (though quite raw).
Tottenham have just a week to get active in the transfer window, a window that simultaneously has the power to sway momentum at the club and to define the rest of Ange Postecoglou’s time at the club.
