Is a back up/rotation striker now our only real priority for January?

[WiganSpur]

My opinion would be that we look for a new, young CB similar to the profile of Wimmer if possible, but certainly content finding a promising young British CB also if possible. Dier has surprised me with his development at DM, so as long as he continues to be supplemented with a good passer of the ball next to him, I'm well content with keeping him there and in the starting lineup.

I'd be happy just to give CCV a go tbh. If he's not ready yet then there's Dier if injuries happen.

What we need I think is a £8-12m young striker who could play as a #9.

 

[DaSpurs]

I'd be happy just to give CCV a go tbh. If he's not ready yet then there's Dier if injuries happen.

What we need I think is a £8-12m young striker who could play as a #9.

I agree that the priority needs to be on the striker alternative. However, I'm not sure CCV is ready just yet, and believe I'm biased in his court as I'm a yank. If Poch disagrees and feels that he would be ready for that slot, then by all means, I'd love to see us go for it. I'm also not entirely opposed to your idea of covering with Dier if it just doesn't work out, especially if it means more diversion of cash towards the striker alternative.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Being realistic with our squad and budget, you think we will buy a CMD this January who will keep either Dier, Bentaleb, Mason or Alli out of the team - or even be on the bench himself? I just don´t see us buying a CMD in January, doesn´t make sense, think Poch much rather want to learn Bentaleb a few tricks about defensive work.

I didn't say that we would buy a DM in January, and I didn't say that they would start if we did. I think it would be a good idea to buy a young, promising DM that fits Pochettino's philosophy. I also think that by next summer, Dembele and Carroll won't be here, so there will certainly be space for another midfielder. But I don't think it will happen in January, and maybe not at all.

On Bentaleb, he'll never be a defensive midfielder, more of a playmaker or box-to-box player, so while of course it's worth him developing his defensive skills, it's would be pointless converting him into a DM like Dier given his qualities.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

What we need I think is a £8-12m young striker who could play as a #9.

Embolo will certainly cost more than that though...

 

[Twizzle]

Bentaleb isn't a DM and we don't really have anyone else who is.

Isn't Winks a DM ?

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Isn't Winks a DM ?

He's definitely not a defensive midfielder I think.

 

[JayB]

Given the Martial transfer the market for strikers is going to be absolutely outrageous, especially in a January window. Basel for instance will be quoting enormous sums for Embolo, and given the dearth of options in the market some massive club will probably be willing to pay it within the next few windows. We obviously need a young striker but Mitchell is going to have to pull something out of a hat.

 

[BobbyB]

I didn't say that we would buy a DM in January, and I didn't say that they would start if we did. I think it would be a good idea to buy a young, promising DM that fits Pochettino's philosophy. I also think that by next summer, Dembele and Carroll won't be here, so there will certainly be space for another midfielder. But I don't think it will happen in January, and maybe not at all.

On Bentaleb, he'll never be a defensive midfielder, more of a playmaker or box-to-box player, so while of course it's worth him developing his defensive skills, it's would be pointless converting him into a DM like Dier given his qualities.

Then we agree, we won't buy a CDM in January

 

[spurs9]

My opinion would be that we look for a new, young CB similar to the profile of Wimmer if possible, but certainly content finding a promising young British CB also if possible. Dier has surprised me with his development at DM, so as long as he continues to be supplemented with a good passer of the ball next to him, I'm well content with keeping him there and in the starting lineup.

My Ideal situation would be for Veljkovic to sign a new deal and have him replace Fazio, as then we have a player who can be a back up DM if we needed it and also gives us the flexibility to move Dier back to CB, with Veljkovic moving to DM. As that looks unlikely at this stage, I think I would want us to either sign a CB that can also play DM (not easy to find)) or sign a defensively sound/disciplined deep lying playmaker (also not easy to find) but I'm really not sure tbh.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Then we agree, we won't buy a CDM in January

That's basically what I said in my first post in this thread

 

[THFCSPURS19]

With regards to the DM, from what I've read, Lewis Cook would be a good option.

 

[Joshua]

With regards to the DM, from what I've read, Lewis Cook would be a good option.

Good young player but I personally wouldn't rate him much higher than Winks to be honest, and he's certainly not close to Alli. Considering how much Dier has stepped up the plate I think we don't need a DM any more. Mason and Bentaleb fully fit, Dele Alli taking massive strides, Dembele dropping in when needed and Carroll and Winks showing they're capable of being rotated in for the cups and I think we're looking pretty strong there. I think a forward like Callum Wilson, Benik Afobe or Odion Ighalo to come in and take the load off Kane is the best bit of business we could do.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

We don't need to buy anyone in January. We have Son and Chadli who can adequately back up Kane as striker, and we have options in behind now.

We still have players like Onomah and Winks as AM/Cm options to integrate and if we could only resolve the Veljkovic issue we wouldn't need to worry about buying a midfielder who could play as a more disciplined CM.

We don't need a one dimensional DM for many games, especially at home and especially if our front four are going to start working like they did in the last couple of games and Pochettino could teach Bentaleb to be a bit more positionally aware and responsible.

If players like Embolo or Kramer became available great, but they won't.

 

[arunspurs]

We need a back up keeper IMO. Vorm has already cost 2 cup runs (FA Cup last season & League cup this time). Every time I see him, I fear he is going to make a mistake. Gap in class & performance is too much between Lloris & Vorm now. We need someone to rely on, who would be solid enough & not commit howlers.

Strikers : Ofcourse we need a No9. But, I would like to see how Njie progresses till Jan. On Saturday, for brief moment, Njie as No9 and Kane no 10 seemed to work. If Njie can show he can operate as No9 successfully, then buying a back up striker may not be needed. In any case, if we are still alive in remaining competition, may be even a experienced loan striker would be ok with me.

CM - If Winks measures up in Europa, then I will sell or loan out Carroll- I really don't see him, getting the game time ahead of Mason or Alli or Bentaleb or Dembele.

In general, I would like our squad to gel well & play together and dip in to transfer market only if player will make a difference.

 

[Ledleys Knee]

Personally I wouldn't sign anyone

Son and Njie have started really well and are capable of covering for Kane at CF. And Dier, Mason, Alli and Bentaleb is an excellent CM quartet.

I would just sell Carroll (6 months on contract), Dembele (18 months on contract) and Fazio, and bring in no one. Time is all this squad needs

 

[Singaspursofsixspence]

We've been linked with these players since the Summer window closed:

Leroy Sane
Luka Jovic
Timo Werner
Jeison Lucumi
Enoch Andoh
Assane Diousse
Andrea Rannocchia

I would only take Sane, Werner or Jovic,and us shipping out Fazio/Carroll. The rest win the list above would probably be surplus at this stage.

 

[DaSpurs]

We've been linked with these players since the Summer window closed:

Leroy Sane
Luka Jovic
Timo Werner
Jeison Lucumi
Enoch Andoh
Assane Diousse
Andrea Rannocchia

I would only take Sane, Werner or Jovic,and us shipping out Fazio/Carroll. The rest win the list above would probably be surplus at this stage.

Unfortunately, I don't see Sane coming to us. He's starting for a good Schalke team this year, and I don't see him going anywhere anytime soon. Staying with Schalke is the best for his development, and as he's at a good club for advocating their own youth and his father played professionally, he'll have good advice in his ear to counter any agent pressure. Werner is certainly a chance if Stuttgart continue to struggle by January, at which point they may sell in attempt to bring in options to patch up the ship. I don't know anything about Jovic other than he seems to be highly rated, so that's not a poor idea, but I'd of course prefer Berahino if we can muster the funds and Chadli or N'Jie prove incapable of leading the line in Kane's stead (I don't like Son at striker, I think he's better picking up the ball deeper and working with it).

 

[Singaspursofsixspence]

I don't see Sane coming to us. He's starting for a good Schalke team this year, and I don't see him going anywhere anytime soon. Staying with Schalke is the best for his development, and as he's at a good club for advocating their own youth and his father played professionally, he'll have good advice in his ear to counter any agent pressure. Werner is certainly a chance if Stuttgart continue to struggle by January, at which point they may sell in attempt to bring in options to patch up the ship. I don't know anything about Jovic other than he seems to be highly rated, so that's not a poor idea, but I'd of course prefer Berahino if we can muster the funds and Chadli or N'Jie prove incapable of leading the line in Kane's stead (I don't like Son at striker, I think he's better picking up the ball deeper and working with it).

whoops, left out Armend Aslani from the list.

The trend that we are looking at exciting young prospects is great!

 

[absolute bobbins]

Replacements for Fazio, Vorm and a striker are what I feel that the squad needs.

A quality DM would be nice but if there is nobody on the market that has the quality then I wouldn't get out the cheque book out.

With regards to January, I agree that a striker is the priority but we should be open to moving Vorm and Fazio to the exit

 

[Shadydan]

Sell Vorm? Why?

We're not honna get much better than him as a backup keeper. Vorm isn't that bad anyway, he just suffers from not being as good as Hugo.