Ange hands transfer wishlist to Spurs amid mounting crisis

Ange Postecoglou expects “nothing magical” in the January transfer window, his shopping wishlist has come to light.

Ange Postecoglou has given the Tottenham brass a list of positions he needs help in. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

Ange Postecoglou admits “nothing magical” will happen in the January transfer window to help injury-hit Tottenham.

Postecoglou’s depleted side crashed to a 4-2 defeat at Brighton in the Premier League on Thursday.

Nine players were unavailable to the Tottenham boss and, after Sunday’s clash with Bournemouth, he will lose Yves Bissouma, Pape Sarr and Son Heung-min for January due to the Africa Cup of Nations and Asian Cup.

However, Postecoglou tried to quash assumptions he will herald the new year with a flurry of transfer activity.

“Nothing magical is going to happen in the January window,” Postecoglou said.

“What we need to do is just keep building. We’ve had one window with this team to change it around, to do things differently.

“The fact that we’re in the (fifth) position we are is a credit to the players. For all the challenges we’ve had, we just kept ploughing forward and that’s what we’ll do.

“We’ll see what we can do in January, but ultimately it’s about building a side that will get us to where we want to.”

Despite Postecoglou’s claims, The Telegraph reports the Australian has informed Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy of the three positions in the team he needs strengthening in.

Unsurprisingly one of those is at centre back, a position Tottenham have been decimated in through injuries and suspensions at various intervals this season.

Additionally, Postecoglou is hoping for some help in central midfield as well as a winger.

Tottenham have been linked with a move for Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo, but the report claims the French club will look to hold onto him for the rest of the season.

Ange Postecoglou, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur. Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

Instead, The Telegraph reports Tottenham are eyeing up a move for Romanian centre back Radu Dragusin.

After spending last season on loan at Genoa, the 21-year-old made the permanent switch at the start of the 2023/24 campaign so he will not come cheap.

As for a new winger, Postecoglou appears likely to reunite with former Celtic winger Jota.

Jota moved from the Hoops to Saudi club Al-Ittihad in the summer but his move has not gone to plan and will be desperate for game time.

Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher is another name that could move to Tottenham in January amid the Blues’ need to balance the books to comply with FFP regulations.

However, The Telegraph claims Chelsea are unlikely to budge from their £50 million ($AUD93 million) valuation of Gallagher, a figure Tottenham are not keen to pay.

But that could change should defensive midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg depart Tottenham in January, with the Dane linked with a switch to Italian giants Juventus.

Tottenham’s long list of absentees means Postecoglou has used 27 players in all competitions this season.

As a result, their early title bid has taken a blow, with the north Londoners presently in fifth place, six points behind leaders Liverpool.

“We’re still at the beginning. Within that context, we want to compete. We’ve got ourselves in a position where we can compete. That’s what we need to keep pushing forward for,” Postecoglou said.

“For us to sustain and maintain that and be a team, it’s no secret we need a strong squad.” Hugo Lloris’ departure from Tottenham is set to be finalised shortly, with the French goalkeeper close to agreeing a move to Los Angeles FC on a free transfer.

“Obviously there’s stuff happening but I’ve been focused on the game. I’m sure we’ll hear something in the next couple of days,” Postecoglou said.

Originally published as Ange hands transfer wishlist to Spurs amid mounting crisis