Tottenham's injury crisis is hitting hard. Spurs are 11th in the Premier League table after 20 games of the season, nowhere near where they would like to be under Ange Postecoglou.
The Australian head coach is coming under increasing pressure, given the club's form, but the number of injuries Spurs have suffered this season has been extraordinary - a mitigating circumstance for their performances.
However, it will not save Postecoglou for ever and a healthy transfer window could put them back to where they need to be and give the head coach the added strength in depth his squad desperately needs.
There are a number of areas for concern for Postecoglou heading into the second half of the campaign. We asked our football.london writers to deliver their verdict on the number one priority at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this month.
Alasdair Gold
Tottenham's first signing right now has to be a centre-back, and in an ideal world one who can also play at left-back for after the next couple of weeks.
Postecoglou's defence is in a bad way right now with Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies not back until later this month and Destiny Udogie out for at least six weeks.
Spurs just need a body through the door right now, whether that's someone with Premier League experience like Fikayo Tomori or another versatile type like Ko Itakura, they simply need someone to come in and help out for the next month or so. It's unlikely to be a superstar in this window, but it needs to be someone who fits Postecoglou's style and can slot in quickly.
The current illness bug on top of the injuries at the club means Tottenham just have to get players through the door otherwise this month is going to be a disaster.
Rob Guest
A new centre-back has to be the priority for Tottenham when it comes to their first move in the winter market. Spurs are so short at the heart of defence and it's not going to be until the end of the month when Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies return to fitness. The situation needs to be addressed ASAP.
Fikayo Tomori has been linked with a move to Tottenham after limited game time at AC Milan this season. The 27-year-old has a wealth of experience in the Premier League, Serie A and the Champions League, thus making him the ideal player for Ange Postecoglou and Spurs.
A very good defender who is blessed with pace and also good on the ball, Tomori has the qualities the Spurs boss looks for and he could be a shrewd acquisition if a deal can be agreed on. The ex-Chelsea man wouldn't be a stop-gap signing either as he has everything to be part of the Tottenham side for the long-term future.
Lee Wilmot
Defender, defender, my kingdom for a defender. The injury crisis in N17 leaves me in no doubt where Spurs need to strengthen first in the January transfer window.
Under Johan Lange, the club like to do things quietly - remember Wilson Odobert signing out of nowhere in the summer? And despite Spurs needing reinforcements somewhat drastically, there are not too many rumours out there at the moment.
Fikayo Tomori is one name being linked with Spurs and he would be a shrewd signing. Homegrown too. He is not getting much gametime at AC Milan and would be an astute piece of business for the here and now and the future with Premier League experience already under his belt. It should not be too difficult to make that a done deal.
Bayer Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah is out of contract in the summer and could be available for a cut-price this month too. I would not be surprised to see Tottenham move for him.
Joe Doyle
I think ideally, Tottenham would have been heading into January looking at where they could possibly improve the first XI, though realistically that will always be difficult in the winter window.
It's no secret that Spurs need defensive reinforcements, though, and ultimately it has to be the priority when they're so short at the back. But they will have to move quickly to feel the benefit of it.
There's no point waiting until the last week of January to get a deal done when Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are close to a return; it has to be done soon.
Fikayo Tomori is a move which makes a lot of sense if they can get either a loan with an option to buy or a straight deal done at a decent price. But that type of deal will need a lot of negotiation, if it can be done at all.
Another option could be PSV centre-back Olivier Boscagli. The 27-year-old was linked with a move to Brighton in the summer but the Seagulls couldn't get a deal done. The defender will be out of contract in the summer, so Spurs may be able to convince the Eredivisie side to part ways with him in January on a cut-price deal. Like a few Spurs stars, he's tactically versatile and can also fill in at left-back - which would be ideal with Destiny Udogie facing six weeks on the sidelines.