Tottenham, having made a solid start to the season, seem to be dwindling off. Having already exited the Champions League they just about made it to the Europa League with a win over CSKA Moscow in their final group game. And this weekend they were defeated 1-0 by Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The lack of depth in the North Londoners’ squad has been a big point of debate recently, with manager Mauricio Pochettino having had to rely on young and inexperienced players to come on in games and make an impact.
The competition for the Champions League spots is fierce with Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City currently occupying the top four places in the league table and fifth-placed Spurs and sixth-placed United also contenders. With the January window close by, Pochettino will definitely need to bring in players in key areas if Spurs are to stay in contention for the European spots come May. Here we look at three players that Spurs will need to bring in to help their cause and achieve qualification for Europe:
Javier Hernandez
A new striker is a need of the hour for Tottenham at this moment without a doubt. With reports emerging that Spurs are looking at Chicharito, fans could be very pleased with the rumours. Harry Kane has been their primary source of goals, with new signing Vincent Janssen finding it hard to adjust to the demands of the Premier League.
Hernandez has been in top form for Bayer Leverkusen ever since he made the switch to Germany from Manchester United and has established himself as their main goalscoring threat. Always a hard-worker and a team man, his experience in the Premier League and European competitions during his United days could come in very handy for the North Londoners as the competition heats up for the top four. With rivals Liverpool also interested in the 28-year old, Spurs needs to act quick if they want to snap up Hernandez.
Mateo Musacchio
The injury to defender Toby Alderweireld exposed Tottenham’s defensive frailties at the back. Back-up defender Kevin Wimmer struggled to make an impact in the limited opportunities that he got, while Eric Dier seems much more comfortable playing higher up in midfield.
So, a defensive reinforcement seems to be a must for Spurs. And Mateo Musacchio could be their man. Having expressed interests in signing him in the past, they failed to convince the Villarreal defender to move to White Hart Lane. But Spurs are a much stronger side now and are involved in European competitions and are also challenging higher in the Premier League. The 26-year old has been extremely solid for the Yellow Submarine this season and could prove to be a great addition to the Spurs’ roster.
Nabil Fekir
Lyon’s Nabil Fekir is another player who was monitored by Spurs in the summer, but instead they went in the direction of Moussa Sissoko. The 23-year old can play anywhere across the attacking line and can also fill in as a centre-forward.
The 2014-15 Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year has scored three times for the French side this season and also has a single assist against his name. He has created the most number of chances (24) for Lyon this season, who sit in 4th place currently. Fekir could easily provide the flexibility that Pochettino craves in his players, is very creative and can contribute goals as well. With Sissoko struggling miserably, Fekir could provide an alternative for the Londoners.