We are now almost at the end of the January transfer window and it has so far been a massive disappointment when compared to all the hype it received in the tabloids during the final few months of 2015.
Indeed, despite pretty much every club in the Premier League requiring reinforcements in certain departments, only a collective 27 signings have been made so far – just half of which have joined teams in the top half of the table.
But now into the final week of the winter window, the pressure to spend will feel heavier than ever on the shoulders of under-fire managers and chairmen, so we could suddenly see the Premier League kick into action.
With that in mind, here are FIVE last-minute deals Tottenham Hotspur could pull off – some representing potential acquisitions and others seemingly inevitable departures – before the January transfer window officially slams shut at 11pm on February 1st.
SAIDO BERAHINO
The Saido-Berahino-to-Tottenham transfer saga has been going on as long as an Eastenders storyline. The Lilywhites were linked in January 2014, came good on their interest with a series of failed bids last summer and have been tipped to swoop once again this month.
Spurs need a dependable understudy to first-choice striker Harry Kane and the West Bromwich Albion prodigy still fits the bill better than most on the market. He’s young, home-grown, versatile and has proved his scoring credentials in the Premier League – netting 14 times in 38 appearances for the relegation-threatened Baggies last season.
Furthermore, the Midlands outfit seem more than happy to cash in. Amid accusations that the 22-year-old’s head was turned by Spurs’ failed £25million bid last summer, manager Tony Pulis has issued him just eight Premier League starts this season.
But that has created doubts over Berahino’s character and whether West Brom will actually sell to the north London club. Furthermore, they still value the Burundi-born striker at around £30million, despite just 18 months remaining on his Hawthorns contract.
SANDRO RAMIREZ
Barcelona prospect Sandro Ramirez has been heavily linked with a move to White Hart Lane as a potential alternative to the admittedly costly and aforementioned Saido Berahino.
The 20-year-old is a more a winger-forward than an out-and-out frontman but boasts a respectable return of seven goals in 31 first team outings for the Catalans – including three Copa del Rey strikes this season – since his debut in August 2014.
With his contract due to expire in eighteen months, Barcelona are reportedly ready to part with the Spanish starlet, who boasts 19 goals in 24 appearances for his country at youth international level.
Ramirez is reportedly rated at around the £9million mark – an acceptable figure to take a punt on. But Barcelona want any deal to include a buy-back option, which could prove to be the ultimate stumbling block for the begrudging north Londoners.
ANDROS TOWNSEND
Having not featured in any competition since a Europa League outing in October and failed to register a full ninety minutes in the Premier League for almost two years, Andros Townsend is clearly surplus to requirements at White Hart Lane.
A number of clubs appear keen to take the England international off Spurs hands, most particularly Newcastle United, and he’s desperate to find first team football to improve his chances of making it into Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2016 squad – which right now are somewhere between slim and none.
But chairman Daniel Levy is refusing to budge on his £14million valuation of the 24-year-old, despite his lack of game-time this season and his Spurs contract being into its last 18 months, which has reportedly seen the Magpies end their interest following a failed £10million bid.
But there’s still a week of the transfer window remaining and likely to get even less for Townsend in the summer, the Tottenham chief could decide to lower his demands.
FEDERICO FAZIO
Federico Fazio came close to leaving White Hart Lane during the summer and having made just one appearance since – a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in the Capital One Cup – logic suggests Spurs are more than happy to sell.
It simply hasn’t worked out for the Argentine in north London. He was sent off during his debut against Manchester City last season and never really recovered from there, lacking the pace required in the Premier League and often committing very costly individual errors.
Nonetheless, the 28-year-old still has a few selling points. He was a Europa League-winning captain with former club Sevilla and widely regarded as one of the better defenders in the Spanish top flight, so a suitor could emerge before the close of the January transfer window.
West Brom, who targeted the 6 foot 5 centre-back in the summer, have been linked once again whilst a return to La Liga is another possible scenario.
JAMES MADDISON
Seemingly spurred on by the phenomenal progress Dele Alli has made since arriving from MK dons during the summer, the Lilywhites are reportedly determined to land another League One prodigy in Coventry midfielder James Maddison.
Spurs targeted the 19-year-old during the summer window but failed to hatch a deal and are now working to bring him to White Hart Lane this month after a string of promising displays for the Ricoh Arena outfit – netting twice in eleven league outings so far this term.
The teenage playmaker is widely regarded as one of the Football League’s most promising talents and the north Londoners are hoping to secure his services before anybody else does – with Arsenal and Liverpool also keen – by signing him this January and loaning him back to Coventry for the remainder of the season.