If a largely atrocious start to 2025 is anything to go by, Tottenham Hotspur's perennial Premier League status is under a small amount of threat as Ange Postecoglou's men compete in the lower echelons of the top-flight table.
In fewer than two years, Spurs fans have gone from revelling in the Australian's fast-paced, attack-minded philosophy to demanding Daniel Levy cede control of the club yet again, although the unpopular chairman should have cut a happier figure in Sunday's 2-0 win at Brentford.
A debilitating injury crisis has not helped Postecoglou's efforts in North London, and the Tottenham boss has also received little help from the powers upstairs, who have failed to convince either Mathys Tel or Fikayo Tomori to swap Bayern Munich or AC Milan for a bottom-half Premier League club.
However, the clouds briefly parted on Sunday morning when the Lilywhites announced the capture of Kevin Danso on loan from Lens with an obligation to buy, and further late arrivals are a distinct possibility.
Here, Sports Mole looks at three players Tottenham could realistically try to sign on transfer deadline day before the January window closes at 11pm on Monday.
Deadline day option one: Axel Disasi (Chelsea | CB | 26)
© Imago
Despite already welcoming the highly-rated Danso to North London, Spurs are being tipped to reinforce their defensive ranks further amid fears that Radu Dragusin could miss the remainder of the season with a serious knee injury.
Ben Davies - out of contract this summer - Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero have also sat out a good chunk of the 2024-25 campaign, and immediately after hearing of Tomori's rejection, Tottenham reportedly turned their attention to Chelsea's Axel Disasi.
The 26-year-old made a name for himself in his native France but is yet to come into his own in the Premier League, only making six appearances in the top flight for Enzo Maresca's side this season despite often sporting the captain's armband in the Conference League.
An agreement between the clubs is said to have been reached for Disasi, who would also provide cover for Pedro Porro at right-back, but Tottenham will seemingly have to fight off Aston Villa and their more enticing offer of Champions League knockout football.
Deadline day option two: Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United | LW | 20)
© Imago
While Marcus Rashford may now have finalised his loan move to Aston Villa, Alejandro Garnacho's future remains clouded in uncertainty, and Tottenham are said to have made an enquiry.
Questions have been raised about the 20-year-old's ability to adapt to Ruben Amorim's system, where the Manchester United manager prefers two number 10s operating just off the striker as opposed to out-and-out wingers.
The recent exploits of Kobbie Mainoo in that advanced area have only served to increase speculation over Garnacho's future, although Amorim has stressed that he wants to continue working with the 2004-born prospect, even though he has not directly contributed to a goal in 12 consecutive Premier League games.
However, as Garnacho qualifies as a home-grown player, Man United could record any sale as pure profit under Profit and Sustainability Regulations, which part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has admitted the club are at risk of breaching.
As a result, Amorim's will may prove meaningless if an interested party stumps up a late bid which makes sense from a financial point of view for the men upstairs.
Deadline day option three: Angel Gomes (Lille | AM | 24)
© Imago
From Man United present to Man United past, Lille playmaker Angel Gomes is now a familiar face in senior England squads thanks to his rise to prominence in Ligue 1, having failed to make the cut in his homeland.
The 24-year-old set up eight goals in 31 appearances during the 2023-24 Ligue 1 campaign, form that convinced then-Three Lions boss Lee Carsley - who worked with Gomes during England's successful Under-21 Euros campaign in 2023 - that he was worthy of a room at St George's Park.
Gomes did not take an age to make his mark in England colours, setting up Jack Grealish's goal in October's 3-1 UEFA Nations League win over Finland, although he has not set the world alight in 2024-25 thanks in no small part to a concussion and a calf problem.
Fear not, though, Tottenham fans, as the playmaker is rarely out of action - missing just 19 senior matches through injury in his entire career according to Transfermarkt - and most importantly, his contract expires at the end of the season.
Gomes has admitted that he is not in the dark about reported interest from England, but Spurs may have understandable concerns about whether he can adapt to the physicality of the Premier League; he stands at just 5ft 4in tall.
Ben Knapton
