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Tottenham Hotspur are currently third in the league, six points from the top. There's no doubt that Spurs have improved significantly over the past few years, but much of their success is down to the strength of their typical first team. Outside of that starting XI, there isn't much quality, and that's a worry.
Depth is also an issue in some areas. For instance, when their main striker Harry Kane is out, Lucas has to step in as his replacement. Now, Lucas has always typically been a right-winger, and this is a position where he has flourished through most of his career. So to suddenly expect him to push up front is a big ask, although he manages it.
But then, what happens if he's also out? There are only the likes of Vincent Janssen and Fernando Llorente available, and both are simply not up to par.
Spurs will need to bring in new talent in the winter, but before they can do that, they need to make space. Here are five players they should offload to free up some gaps.
#5 Michel Vorm
Once upon a time, Michel Vorm was an incredible goalkeeper and an asset to his first Premier League side: Swansea City. However, after his move to Spurs at the end of the 2014-15 season, he was suddenly plunged into obscurity.
Despite having been with Tottenham for five seasons now, he has only played for them a total of 13 times. That is a staggering waste of talent, and many understandably wonder why Vorm hasn't made a move by now to try and revive his career.
Perhaps he's happy just sitting on the bench and being paid ridiculous sums of money to watch Spurs play each week.
However, after the addition of goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga from Southampton, Vorm has seen himself slip down the pecking order to third choice keeper. He may not mind that, but surely this is a weight on the club's finances now; Vorm is no longer needed, and therefore should no longer be on the books.
Mauricio Pochettino is most likely aware of this issue, and given the amount the club could get for a player of Vorm's capability, he's more than likely going to contemplate selling him in January.
Where might Michel Vorm go?
Vorm's contract with Spurs is set to expire at the end of the season, so if they want to get anything back from what they paid for him, they should look to hurry proceedings up in January.
Vorm is yet to be officially linked with any club, but he deserves a place in a Premier League side. He could quite easily slot into the role of a first choice keeper at a club near the foot of the table.
But whether he's tired of the Premier League altogether remains a question that could throw such a move into doubt.
#4 Victor Wanyama
When Wanyama first joined Spurs, he was an asset to the side. He featured in 36 games out of a possible 38 in his first season.
But then Tottenham changed their style of play. This threw a spanner into the works for Wanyama, and suddenly he found himself out of the starting XI.
For the 2017-18 campaign, he made half the number of appearances he had in that first season, coming off of the bench for 10 of them.
It's a similar story this season, too; he has just four appearances to his name, three of them as substitutes, which isn't great at all for a player of his level. And now that he's out with a knee injury, it'll take even longer for him to work his way back into the team.
Since Wanyama now plays such a minor role in the new Spurs set-up, it would be wise to get him off the books sooner rather than later.
Where might Victor Wanyama go?
TalkSPORT have reported that teams like Manchester United and Liverpool are odds-on favourites to try and sign Wanyama in January. West Ham United are also interested in the Kenyan.
Any of these clubs could be a possibility for Wanyama, as they'll all provide first-team football - something which he sorely misses at Tottenham.
#3 Vincent Janssen
Vincent Janssen was believed to be a hot prospect when he was signed from AZ Alkmaar in the summer of 2016 for almost £20m.
He was the Eredivisie top scorer, but why the Spurs board thought that his skills would transfer to the Premier League is beyond me. There is a chasm between the two leagues in terms of quality, and that has shown ever since Janssen joined the club.
Janssen featured in 27 matches in his first season, but scored just two goals. He then spent the next season on loan at Fenerbahce, where he played a bit better, but it wasn't enough to prove to anyone that he was ready to challenge for a spot in Spurs' first team.
And now this season, he's yet to play even a single game, and is currently sidelined with a knee injury.
It's safe to say that Janssen has been a terrible signing for Spurs, and they've lived to rue the decision to buy him.
Where might Vincent Janssen go?
Janssen was linked heavily with a permanent move to Fenerbahce at the start of last season, but went out on loan instead. No such interest has prevailed this time around though.
While he hasn't been linked with any club so far, Tottenham will undoubtedly be open to offers for the 24-year-old in January.
#2 Fernando Llorente
Llorente might be 33 years old now, but before his move to Spurs two years ago he still had plenty left in the tank. He wreaked havoc up front for Swansea, scoring 15 goals in 33 matches in his initial season there.
Like Michel Vorm, Llorente was also a star at Swansea City before effectively ending his career with a move to White Hart Lane.
At Tottenham, he featured in 16 matches in his first season, 15 of which saw him come off the bench as a late substitute. He scored just a single goal.
This time around, Llorente has played just twice, and is yet to start a single match.
There's no doubt that he must be on a lot of money per week, as they had to pay big to pry him from Swansea after his terrific displays there. But the truth is, Llorente is simply a backup player who gets a game every now and then in order for the board to justify his purchase to the fans.
He's about the same level as Vincent Janssen in the pecking order, firmly behind Harry Kane and Lucas.
Where might Fernando Llorente go?
The Evening Standard have reported that Llorente would be prepared to return to his former club, Athletic Bilbao, in January. There are a couple of other clubs in LaLiga after his signature, and so Spain appears to be the most likely destination for him.
Llorente will probably be searching for a final club now, so Bilbao would be the ideal place for him to retire.
#1 Cameron Carter-Vickers
Once an exciting youth prospect, Carter-Vickers has since slipped down the pecking order at Spurs. Although he's been given ample opportunities out on loan with Championship clubs, he has returned without making any sort of impression.
Some critics have argued that what lets the 20-year-old down is his burly frame, which hinders his speed and acceleration. This means that quick, agile strikers have it easy when they come up against him, as they can simply skip past knowing that he won't catch up.
If the Premier League was difficult for him, then the Championship must surely be crushing his confidence. The rapid style of play means that defenders must always be on their toes, ready to dash to-and-fro. But because Carter-Vickers lacks this ability, he tends to get caught out frequently.
He's made seven appearances for Swansea City so far this season, who sit 12th in the Championship. The fact that he's made little to no progress over the last couple of seasons is a major red flag for any parent club - especially one the size of Tottenham. I don't think it would come as a surprise to anyone to see Carter-Vickers get shipped out soon - if not in January, then at the end of the season.
Where might Cameron Carter-Vickers go?
Although he's currently out on loan with Swansea, Spurs can still set up a future transfer in January, perhaps for the summer. Whilst the 20-year-old hasn't been officially linked with a club as of yet, the most likely destination for him is the Championship. The Premier League is simply too good for him at this stage in his career. And unless he shows some signs of improvement soon, he'll be in deep trouble.
