'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Liverpool fans were dreaming of the Premier League title until Manchester City defeated them 2-1 and now, we have a real title race on our hands. City and Tottenham are the only ones in a realistic position to wrest the title from Liverpool.
City's slip-ups without the injured Fernandinho briefly allowed Tottenham to overtake them, but a defeat against Wolves showed that they still have to invest more to win the title.
Not many expected Spurs to perform the way they are performing now. After all, they hadn't signed a single player in the transfer window and most of the key players had a long run World Cup. But, once again, against all odds, they are still serious title contenders.
With Tottenham having their best start under Pochettino, it's vital that they invest immediately end their trophy drought and win the Premier League.
#3 Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen)
Bayer Leverkusen has a long history of producing influential midfielders. Toni Kroos, Michael Ballack and Marco Reus are a handful of talents that established themselves in the Leverkusen shirt before being snapped by big clubs.
In recent times, the club has produced talents like Julian Brandt, Leon Bailey, Hakan Calhanoglu and Kai Havertz.
A technically gifted midfielder who can play with both feet and is great aerially, Havertz has a keen eye for a killer pass.
He recently broke Timo Werner's record as the youngest teenager to have 50 appearances in the Bundesliga. His market value has skyrocketed from €28 million in June to €65 million in January. This is higher than talents like Frenkie de Jong.
As such, he has been linked with a number of clubs. Barcelona and Inter are the favorites to land him while Bayern are also monitoring him.
Havertz could prove to be a shrewd signing for Tottenham, though they will face stiff competition for his signature.
#2 Matthijs de Ligt (Ajax Amsterdam)
A product of Ajax's famed academy, de Ligt is the captain of the side and has been a regular for the Netherlands ever since. His progression has been attracting the attention of top clubs.
de Ligt broke into Ajax's first-team squad at 16 - the sort of age that is absurdly young for a central defender. At the age of 17, he became the youngest player to start for the national team since 1931.
During the UEFA Nations League, de Ligt started and played 90 minutes in all four group matches against Germany and France as the Netherlands won the group and qualified for the Nations League Finals.
His biggest low came in March 2017, when he made his international debut in a crucial World Cup qualifier in Bulgaria. The Bulgarians targeted the 17-year-old every time he got the ball, forcing him into errors, and won 2-0. Coach Danny Blind, who had gambled on him, was sacked after the match and the Netherlands missed qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.
How he overcame this experience to become a wonderful young defender is truly wonderful. He admitted his mistakes, learned from it and moved on.
He displays a surprisingly light-footed dribble from the back, a sharp forward pass with either foot and a knack for heading in corners. The starlet has the tactical knowledge and always seems to find his best positions.
On 17 December 2018, de Ligt won the Golden Boy award, becoming the first ever defender to do so. As Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen are in their 30s, Tottenham are heavily in need of a new centre-back.
If the North London giants can manage to secure his services by beating the likes of Bayern Munich and Barcelona, they will certainly get rewarded as he is a gem of a player.
#1 Frenkie de Jong
Frenkie de Jong is probably the biggest transfer target for clubs across Europe. The arrival of Daley Blind has seen him move from being an aggressive ball playing center back to a deep-lying midfielder. His exceptional rise has coincided with the emergence of teammate Matthijs de Ligt.
Hence, it's no surprise that his market value has increased from €7 million in the summer to €60 million in winter.
He completed 93% of his dribbles in the 2017-18 season with an average of 2.5 successful dribbles per 90 mins, despite playing as a center-back. The youngster's dribbling record has been pretty impressive yet again in this campaign, now that he has returned to his natural midfield role.
His brilliant vision and passing have made him a well-rounded midfielder.
Though Spurs have Moussa Dembele to do this job, age and injuries have finally caught up and Pochettino and co. are in need of a proper replacement. Moreover, his contract expires in the summer.
As such, they are in need of a defensive midfielder who can win the 50-50s and provide those forward passes; someone who can dictate the game.
He will certainly be expensive and Spurs will face some heavy competition as de Jong has a lot of admirers. His arrival is most important as he is one of a kind.
