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After a summer transfer window in which Tottenham Hotspur failed to sign a single player, many fans are sincerely hoping for more this time around in January.
Squad depth has been an issue with Spurs so far this season, with it quickly becoming apparent that there were a lot of players outside of the starting XI who were simply not up to par, so the board will need to invest heavily next month to ensure that the right players come in.
Spurs currently sit third in the Premier League with 39 points, just six points from the top spot. Had they bolstered their squad in the summer, they might have found themselves even higher up the table by now.
With that being said, let's take a look at six players that Spurs are rumoured to be interested in and determine just how probable these transfers are.
#6 Joachim Andersen (Sampdoria)
Joachim Andersen is a 22-year-old centre-back who plays for Sampdoria in Serie A. He only signed with the Italian club in the summer of 2017 from FC Twente for a mere £1.2m, yet he's already worth around £7m, at least.
Andersen also features for Denmark's U21 side, having made 16 appearances for them since September 2015.
The 6'2" defender has attracted a lot of attention in recent months, thanks to his consistent performances at the back for Sampdoria. He's surprisingly agile for a defender of his height, and has a decent amount of speed - enough to fairly compete with the rapid strikers of Serie A.
Rumour probability: 4.5/10
Tottenham have a knack for going after young talent, especially in the defensive area, so their interest in Andersen is likely to be strong. He would also serve as the backup centre-back that they've been after for some time now, and at the bargain price of £7m, this could be a great deal for Spurs to latch onto.
However, TalkSPORT have reported that it could be Inter Milan who land Andersen's signature in January, as they are supposedly already in talks. Spurs will have to hurry if they stand any chance of getting their man.
#5 Nicolo Barella (Cagliari)
Another target from Serie A is 21-year-old central midfielder Nicolo Barella, who plays for Cagliari. He is a product of their youth academy, so naturally holds the club dear to his heart, but if an offer from the Premier League presents itself, it could be difficult to turn down. That's where Spurs come in.
Barella told the Gazzetta dello Sport (via football.london) that if he "had to choose between the Serie A and the Premier League, I would go for England because I love the way they approach the game."
This in itself is a clear sign that the Italian is looking for the next big step in his career, but with interest coming from the likes of Juventus, Roma, AC Milan, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United, the chances of Spurs getting their man could be slim.
Rumour probability: 6/10
If Spurs can beat the many other teams that are vying for Barella's signature in January, they'd be incredibly lucky. They would have to pay upwards of £27m, at least, before Cagliari would consider allowing talks to be held between another club and their star player.
But the Lilywhites have a great deal of money in the bank, mainly because they didn't spend anything in the summer, so this gives them a rather large advantage over other competing clubs.
#4 Eric Bailly (Manchester United)
Eric Bailly joined Manchester United from Villarreal in the summer of 2016 for around £35m, but he's had a torrid time at Old Trafford since then.
His relationship with Jose Mourinho appears to be deteriorating by the day now, and it seems like it's only a matter of time before he attempts to force his way out of the club. Mourinho often keeps Bailly on the bench, opting instead for the likes of Chris Smalling or Victor Lindelof to play at the back.
As a result of all this, it's no wonder that clubs have begun to show interest in the 24-year-old Ivorian, as he still has a huge amount of talent to offer clubs, but he needs to be used right.
But for Spurs, trying to land Eric Bailly next month might prove a lot harder than first thought, since Paris Saint-Germain are now reportedly in the running for his signature. Tottenham might be a rich club, but their fortune is nowhere near that of PSG, so if a bidding war ensues, Spurs will have to look elsewhere.
Rumour probability: 6/10
The fact that Bailly is unhappy at Old Trafford is what makes his transfer a likely one, but where he might end up is anyone's guess. Spurs have as much chance as any other club, given their prestige, but it may come down to who offers him the most money - and that's where Paris Saint-Germain come in.
#3 Adrien Rabiot (Paris Saint-Germain)
Paris Saint-Germain's £45m-rated central midfielder, Adrien Rabiot, is set to be out of contract by next summer, and the big clubs who've shown interest in him in the past have already begun to circle around the 23-year-old.
As a product of their youth academy, PSG are naturally protective of Rabiot, but his refusal to sign a new contract has left them vulnerable to other clubs. Unless they can sell him in January, they'll miss out on a great deal of money if he simply leaves the club in the summer for free instead.
Rabiot also plays internationally for France, who won the World Cup last summer. He has made six appearances for them since November 2016.
Le Parisien, a French news outlet, have reported on Spurs' interest in the player, and predict that they'll be Rabiot's next club by January.
Rumour probability: 7/10
Despite also being linked to Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool, whenever Rabiot has been mentioned, Spurs are inevitably included. The speculation surrounding the two has been simmering in the background for what seems like forever, but now that the January transfer window is approaching, there might finally be a conclusion to all the rumours and gossip.
#2 Rafinha (Barcelona)
Rafinha and Spurs have been closely linked for a long time now, and thanks to Pochettino's great relationship with Barcelona's director Ramon Planes, Spurs have always been the frontrunners for his signature.
However, there is one major setback with this transfer: Rafinha is currently sidelined until May 2019 because of a Cruciate Ligament Rupture. This will put a halt to proceedings, as the player will be unable to complete their medical. But with Spurs' interest in the midfielder so high, there's no doubt that they'll try everything they can to ensure that they get their man sooner than later.
This could mean that they go after him in the summer, instead.
Rumour probability: 0/10
Simply because of his major injury, this transfer won't be going ahead, regardless of the speculation that still buzzes around him right now.
#1 Tonny Vilhena (Feyenoord)
Tonny Vilhena seems like the ideal player for Spurs to invest in. He has speed, technical ability and great vision - he controls the centre of the pitch for Feyenoord week in, week out, and that's exactly the sort of thing Tottenham need this season.
Transfermarkt value Vilhena at around £10m, which is a fair price to pay for a player of his quality. He's only 23 years old, too, so has plenty of time to improve.
There's been plenty of speculation surrounding Vilhena and Spurs, but there are also other clubs competing for his signature. TalkSPORT have reported that Spurs are prepared to battle Roma for the Feyenoord midfielder next month, which means that a bidding war could ensue.
Rumour probability: 8/10
Vilhena would slot into the Tottenham Hotspur side with ease, covering for Mousa Dembele, who seems to pick up injuries a lot more frequently nowadays.
If the 23-year-old wants to further his career, joining a Premier League side would help him do exactly that - especially a club the size of Spurs.
