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Tottenham are looking to get ahead of Barcelona in the race to sign a new target for Ange Postecolgou in the January transfer window, according to a fresh report from Spain.

Tottenham draw 2-2 with Wolves

Spurs failed to record a first Premier League win in three on Sunday, drawing 2-2 at home to Wolves. Tottenham came from behind thanks to goals from Rodrigo Bentancur and Brennan Johnson, however, Jorgen Strand Larsen's late equaliser made it just one point from nine in the last seven days.

The result leaves Tottenham in the bottom half at the halfway stage of the season, with the club miles away from challenging for European football next campaign.

Fortunately, with the January transfer window just around the corner, Tottenham will have the chance to strengthen their squad as they look for a better second half of the campaign, with Postecoglou keen to add new blood to his ranks in the next month.

Ahead of the Nottingham Forest defeat, the Australian coach explained: "Like I said a while ago, we've been planning. A lot of it was going to be around where we're at around this time. [It’s] fair to say we're still a little bit short in a couple of areas and we need to reinforce."

A defender and a new forward are reportedly on their wishlist, and now they may have found a new option to bolster their backline.

Tottenham in race for defender who could leave in January

Spurs have been linked with moves for the likes of Ben Godfrey and Abdukodir Khusanov already ahead of the January transfer window, but have now been handed another, more unlikely name.

Now, a report from Spain has claimed that Tottenham are now in the mix with Barcelona and several other clubs around Europe to land Rayo Vallecano defender Andrei Ratiu in January, with the defender "very likely to leave" the La Liga side in January.

Though Ratiu is under contract until 2028, the report claims that the defender is set to leave this winter after a string of impressive performances. An international teammate of current Spurs defender Radu Dragusin, Ratiu has a €25m [£20.7m] release clause in his deal in Spain, which the report suggests could be triggered this winter.

Alongside Barcelona and Tottenham, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and AS Roma are all named as potential destinations, with Barcelona reportedly having an advantage due to strong agent relations. However, the Catalan club currently have no money to sign new players in January, already struggling to register summer signing Dani Olmo for the second half of the season, leaving them an unlikely destination for the 26-year-old.

Despite that, a move to Tottenham seems equally far-fetched unless there is an exit from north London, with Ratiu's 16 appearances this season having all come at right back, where Spurs are already well-stocked with Pedro Porro and Djed Spence, while Archie Gray also spent much of his Leeds career at fullback.

Therefore, though a transfer may be likely for the Romanian defender, it seems unlikely that it will be to north London this January, with a centre-back likely to be far more of a priority for Postecoglou and co given their current situation.

Tottenham have now reportedly tabled a fresh offer of £37m to sign a new attacker who has been catching the eye this season, though they may have to wait until the summer to complete any deal for him.

Tottenham eyeing January reinforcements

At the midway point of the campaign, Tottenham find themselves in the bottom half of the Premier League, with Ange Postecoglou's side having lost more games than they have won this season.

One major area of concern has been in defence, where Archie Gray has been asked to deputise thanks to injuries to all of Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Ben Davies and now Radu Dragusin.

Postecoglou has already revealed that Tottenham plan to strengthen in the January transfer window, saying ahead of the Nottingham Forest clash that "Like I said a while ago, we've been planning. A lot of it was going to be around where we're at around this time. [It’s] fair to say we're still a little bit short in a couple of areas and we need to reinforce.

“But January is trickier in terms of what sort of players you can bring in. For us, ideally - for any club, I guess - you want to bring in people who are going to make you stronger."

Now, the Evening Standard claim that a centre-back and a versatile forward are top of their January wishlist, amid reports linking them with Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov as well as ex-Everton man Ben Godfrey.

Beyond January though, Tottenham already seem to be planning for next summer.

Tottenham table £37m bid for forward

That comes as reports out of Spain claim that Tottenham have tabled a €45m (£37.3m) bid to sign Brighton forward Facundo Buonanotte, who is currently starring on loan with Leicester City.

The Argentina international, who is expected to spend the season with the Foxes, has grabbed four goals and two assists in 15 outings at the King Power, though he has not been able to prevent them from slipping into the relegation zone.

Still just 20 years old, the versatile forward's form has caught the eye, with talent scout Jacek Kulig taking to X to dub him "fantastic" and a "huge talent".

That has also caught the eye of Tottenham, with the report explaining that the north Londoners have "identified Buonanotte as a key piece for the team's future", and have "taken a firm step in their interest" by submitting a formal offer of €45m (£37.3m).

Buonanotte still has three and a half years left to run on his £25,000 a week deal at the Amex, but with there already being a log-jam in Fabian Hurzeler's attack, regular football elsewhere could be a tempting proposition for the 20-year-old.

Any deal would almost certainly take place in the summer, but could certainly fill the versatile attacking berth that Spurs seem to be on the hunt for.

Tottenham Hotspur’s poor form continued after a 1-0 Boxing Day defeat against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. That is the sixth time they have failed to win in December, with their only victories coming away to Southampton and at home to Manchester United in a hectic Carabao Cup tie.

Indeed, it was a former Red Devils star who sunk the Lilywhites, with Anthony Elanga scoring the only goal of the game. It was a game where Spurs dominated the ball. As per Sofascore, they had 70% possession but failed to break down a tough Forest defence.

One of the most disappointing performers on the day was captain Son Heung-Min.

Son’s stats vs. Forest

It has been a bit of a strange season for Tottenham captain Son. The South Korean is naturally not having the same impact as he did a few years ago, given the fact he is 32 years of age. Yet, he still has five goals and six assists in 14 Premier League games.

Against Southampton in the 5-0 thrashing earlier this month, the Spurs captain scored once and grabbed two assists.

He also scored twice in the 4-0 win over Everton on the second day of the season. So, the numbers are there, but he has struggled for form too.

Perhaps the defeat on Boxing Day is a prime example of this. Whilst the Spurs number seven was involved in the game, having 53 touches and creating three chances, he didn’t really have the impact one might expect.

This was certainly echoed by Football.London journalist Alasdair Gold. The Spurs correspondent gave the Lilywhites number seven a 4/10 for his performance in the East Midlands, describing his display as 'hesitant and ineffective'.

Ange Postecoglou now has a bold decision to make. With Spurs stuck in this rut of limp form, he might well choose to drop his captain for their next game against Wolverhampton Wanderers. It would be a bold call, but one that is perhaps justified.

That does leave the question of who could replace Son in the side, with one option being Lucas Bergvall.

Why Bergvall could start vs. Wolves

After a Boxing Day performance that was certainly not the highlight of Christmas for Spurs fans, one silver lining was Bergvall’s cameo. The 18-year-old Swedish midfielder has had fleeting opportunities for the Lilywhites this term, with just 221 minutes in the Premier League.

However, his 26-minute appearance at the City Ground last Thursday was certainly encouraging. Gold described it as a 'neat cameo', giving him a 6/10 for his efforts as he tried to help Spurs claw back a point. Indeed, he was busy in the short amount of time he was on the pitch, having 32 touches and a pass accuracy of 92%.

There is more evidence to suggest a start for Bergvall is justified. He has had some impressive performances in the Europa League too this season, particularly in the 1-0 win against AZ Alkmaar. As per Sofascore, the youngster had 50 touches, completed 91% of his passes and created one big chance.

Starting the Swede might be a smart choice from Postecoglou in order to shake things up, although it would mean the starting lineup could do with a reshuffle. Bergvall is a creative midfielder, operating in central areas. He was once described as a “very complete” player by football analyst Ben Mattinson.

This means that Dejan Kulusevski would have to play out wide to accommodate the 18-year-old. It might see his countryman play on the right and Brennan Johnson switch to the left-hand side.

If he decides to play Bergvall from the start, it would be a brave thing for Postecoglou to do against Wolves. The Old Gold are flying high under new manager Vitor Pereira, with two wins in two games so far.

Spurs are not exactly in good form, so switching things up and giving a youngster like Bergvall a chance from the start could be something that can help them get back to winning ways.

Tottenham Hotspur have struggled with injuries so far in the 2024/25 season. Their turbulent run of form in recent weeks has coincided with fitness throughout the squad, and they have struggled for form. Mainly, the Lilywhites have had poor availability at centre-back, and now all four of their senior centre-backs are out injured.

Indeed, this has had a knock-on effect on other positions across their squad. One of those areas is in midfield, with the likes of Archie Gray having to fill in at centre-back. Yves Bissouma is another player who has had to play in an unfamiliar position, and his season has been one of real ups and downs.

Bissouma’s 2024/25 season so far

It has been a really tough campaign so far for Malian midfielder Bissouma. At the beginning of the season, he was suspended by the club for one match for a disciplinary issue.

The 28-year-old has been in and out of the first team this campaign, and although he has played 14 times in the Premier League, has started just seven.

His 833 minutes equate to just 9.25 full 90-minute games played in the top flight. That includes two goals, with one coming in a 4-0 win over Everton in his second game back.

The midfielder is now into his third season at the Lilywhites after a move from Brighton and Hove Albion in 2022. He cost £25m up front, with a further £10m in potential add-ons. In total, he has managed 77 games for the club and has never really become a first-choice starter.

It has been a tough time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for Bissouma so far, and it might not get any easier. They are linked with a new midfield target who could ultimately replace the Malian in the side.

Spurs’ midfield target

The player in question here is Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli. According to a report from Caught Offside earlier this week, Spurs are ‘in the best position to transfer the Italian star to the English capital’ this winter.

The Old Lady star is valued at £21m and is also a target for Spurs’ London rivals Fulham, West Ham and Crystal Palace. However, they are ‘set to be blown out of the water’ by the North Londoners.

Under new Juve boss Thiago Motta, the 23-year-old has not been a crucial player, and whilst he has featured at times, has never locked down a starting berth. Fagioli has played 18 times across all competitions, featuring for just 758 minutes. That equates to 8.42 full 90 minute games.

It has not been an easy ride for the youngster over the last few years. He was suspended from football for seven months in October 2023 for gambling but showed great character to bounce back and make Italy’s squad for Euro 2024.

In total, he has 64 games for Juve under his belt and three goals including one against Inter in 2022/23.

Yet, despite the tough times, there is no denying Fagioli’s talent. Described as a “diamond” by Opta, the midfielder is a hard-working and progressive player. He is statistically similar to Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice, with the pair comparable on FBref.

Indeed, in possession, both midfielders are extremely progressive, more so than Bissouma. The Italian averages 6.45 progressive passes per game, with Rice ranking first with 6.69 and Bissouma last with just 6.09.

Off the ball, the Juve star ranks above both and averages 5.32 ball recoveries per game. Comparatively, the Arsenal man averages 5.19 ball recoveries and the Spurs midfielder the least, with 5.11 each game.

The signing of Fagioli could be an excellent piece of business for Spurs. Not only is he an upgrade on Bissouma, but is younger and will be a good investment for the future, too.

La Liga giants Barcelona are working to find a new club for one of their players in 2025, and it is believed that he could join Tottenham Hotspur.

Ange Postecoglou makes January transfer admission at Tottenham

Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou hasn't had the easiest of times when it comes to player availability, with the Lilywhites minus a host of first-team players right now - especially in defence.

Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Ben Davies are not expected back until after the new year, with the latter suffering a setback in his recovery from injury, which will keep him out for even longer than anticipated (Postecoglou).

Radu Dragusin also picked up an ankle injury in the final minutes of Spurs' 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day, dealing a real worry for Postecoglou, who's now waiting to discover the extent of the defender's problem.

Dragusin faces a late fitness test to determine whether he'll be eligible for their clash with Wolves on Sunday or if his fresh knock is more severe, but Postecoglou faces the very real scenario of being without a single senior centre-back tomorrow.

As injuries continue to ravage the Spurs squad, questions understandably surround the looming January transfer window and whether chairman Daniel Levy will give the green light to invest in new signings mid-season.

Speaking in his latest press conference, Postecoglou confirmed that the north Londoners are "working hard" to strengthen his squad behind the scenes - but there will be no sense of panic-buying in what is a historically challenging window.

"I still think you can be disciplined," said Postecoglou on January transfers.

"It will depend where we’re at when the window opens, and we're getting close to that now, so we've got a clearer picture of where we're at. I still think we have to be disciplined, it's not just about just bringing anybody in. There's certainly a need to reinforce if we can.

"Everyone knows January's not an easy time to do that. But the club's working hard behind the scenes to see what we can do to help players we've got at the moment who are giving everything in every game and dipping into every bit of energy they have to try to get us through."

Tottenham emerge as possible destination for Barcelona forward Vitor Roque

Thinking ahead to next summer, Levy and technical director Johan Lange are also setting transfer plans in motion.

According to a report by Spanish newspaper Sport (as relayed by another media source from the continent), Barcelona forward Vitor Roque could be snapped up by Postecoglou's side next year.

The £33 million Brazilian, who's currently enjoying a productive spell on loan at Real Betis, is likely to be sold next summer - with Hansi Flick and co deciding to find him a new club.

It is believed that Roque could join Tottenham from Barcelona as one potential landing spot alongside Palmeiras and two unnamed Italian clubs, as the Catalans work hard to find him suitors.

It's been a rather dismal season for Tottenham Hotspur this year.

Ange Postecoglou's side would have come into the Premier League campaign hoping to do one better than last time and qualify for the Champions League, but as things stand, they find themselves all the way down in 11th place with more losses than wins to their name.

Now, the North Londoners have had to deal with several significant injuries and suspensions that have made life difficult, but even so, the team has been seriously below par.

Moreover, some of the stars of the first team, like Son Heung-min, Pedro Porro and Rodrigo Bentancur, have been particularly poor, and based on recent reports, the club could soon sign the latter's replacement.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Spain via Sport Witness, Tottenham are 'really interested' in Real Betis star Johnny Cardoso.

Alongside the Lilywhites, the report has revealed that AC Milan, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid are keen on the American international, who's been in fine form this season.

While interest from such European giants isn't ideal, the North Londoners have an advantage they don't. When selling Giovani Lo Celso to Betis in the summer, they negotiated an option on the 23-year-old worth €30m - £25m - which will become active in June.

Should the other interested parties start a bidding war, it could still prove to be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but as things stand, Cardoso looks likely to join Spurs in the summer, which is great news for the team but could be very bad news for Bentancur.

How Bentancur compares to Cardoso

So, if Spurs decide to act upon their action to sign Cardoso next year, they'll likely do so with the intention of giving him plenty of game time to prove himself next season.

However, given his preference for playing in central and defensive midfield, this would undoubtedly put him in competition with Bentancur for a starting berth, so who comes out on top when we compare the pair?

Well, given where they play, raw output is not a significant concern, and given that they have both produced two-goal involvements this season, there isn't much to differentiate them there anyway.

Instead, the best way to understand which one might have an advantage is to look under the hood, at their underlying numbers, and when we do that, things start to look good for the American "ball-winner," as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson.

For example, while he comes out second best in some offensive metrics, he comes out on top in most, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots and shots on target, key passes, successful take-ons and goal-creating actions, all per 90.

Moreover, and potentially more important given the teams' performances this year, the "extraordinary" 23-year-old, as dubbed by Betis director Manu Fajardo, has far better defensive numbers.

For example, he comes out ahead in metrics such as tackles, won, blocks, interceptions and clearances, all per 90.

Lastly, on top of all of the above, he's also considerably younger than the former Juventus ace and could, therefore, be moulded into a key component of Postecoglou's long-term plans in a way Bentancur could not.

Ultimately, Cardoso may not be a household name among English football fans at the moment, but he looks like he could be in a few years.

Therefore, Spurs must make sure they take advantage of their option next year, as plenty of other teams are keen to sign the American in their stead.

There's no escaping it now: this season has been dreadful for Tottenham Hotspur.

In fact, the one thing preventing it from being a full-blown disaster is the fact that the club have a League Cup semi-final to look forward to.

However, when it comes to their Premier League form, Ange Posetcoglou's side have been dire, and while some blame must fall at the feet of the manager, he has been dealt a lousy hand in the form of an injury crisis at the back.

So, recent reports linking the club with someone who could solve the manager's biggest problem and serve as an upgrade on Radu Dragusin should excite fans.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Tottenham are one of around 11 sides interested in Paris Saint-Germain defender Milan Skriniar.

Alongside the Lilywhites, the report claims that Napoli, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Roma, and Atlético Madrid are all keen on the experienced defender.

However, while this level of outside interest is far from ideal for the North Londoners, the good news is that he may not cost an arm and a leg to sign, as the story has revealed that PSG will make him available for around €35m - £29m - next month, and could be willing to go as low as €25m - £21m - in negotiations.

In all, it could be an incredibly complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Skriniar's ability and experience, it's one worth pursuing, especially as he'd be an upgrade on Dragusin and help solve Ange's biggest problem.

How Skriniar compares to Dragusin

So, of all the issues Postecoglou has faced at Spurs this season, the defensive injury crisis has been the most significant.

Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Ben Davies have all missed a sizable portion of the season thus far, which has meant that 18-year-old Archie Gray and the error-prone Dragusin have had to form a makeshift and rather flimsy centre-back partnership, and now it looks like the latter will be out for a little while as well.

So, in signing a new defender, the club will be addressing, and hopefully solving, the Australian's most significant pressing this season.

Moreover, if the centre-back they sign ends up being Skriniar, then that would also see Dragusin fall further down the pecking order, as while he's had some decent performances, he's also had too many dire ones.

For example, he picked up a red card on his European debut for the side, gifted Victor Osimhen a goal against Galatasaray and looked utterly clueless against Rangers.

However, the "incredible" PSG gem, as dubbed by journalist Jerry Mancini, would be a brilliant addition to the squad in his own right and not just as an upgrade on the Romanian.

For example, he has bags and bags of experience, making 246 appearances for Inter Milan and winning the league in Italy and France while also making 77 appearances for Slovakia.

Moreover, on top of being a 6 foot 2 titan who certainly wouldn't be bullied in the Premier League, he's no slouch with the ball at his feet, as FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues, places him in the top 1% of centre-backs for passes attempted and passes completed, per 90.

Ultimately, Spurs are in desperate need of new defenders, as not only are their starting centre-backs seemingly injury-prone, but their replacements aren't good enough.

Therefore, the North Londoners should do all they can to sign Skriniar next month, as he'd be the perfect solution to this problem.

Tottenham Hotspur have a "complete" centre-back on their agenda for the January transfer window, according to reliable Standard Sport journalist Dan Kilpatrick, as technical director Johan Lange silently works on Spurs' recruitment plans for the winter.

Minutes away from added time in their 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day, Spurs supporters were given a nightmare sight, with their only fit senior centre-back in Radu Dragusin forced off through injury.

The Romanian picked up an ankle problem at the City Ground, which could leave manager Ange Postecoglou without a single fit senior centre-half for their looming Premier League clash against Wolves on Sunday.

Postecoglou shared an update on Dragusin's condition via his latest pre-match press conference, and the Australian says it is still too early to determine the extent of his issue, or whether he'll be eligible for Wolves.

Ben Davies has suffered a setback in his recovery from injury, while both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are not expected to return until 2025. Postecoglou says Tottenham are working hard on potential January recruits amid this injury crisis at N17, as he pleads for reinforcements to strengthen the squad.

"Not in years but I think in the context of where we're at at the moment I think it is an important one," said Postecoglou when asked if this January is the most important transfer window in recent memory for Spurs.

"I think if we add what we need to add, and it fits the bill in what we're trying to do… our league position is not great, but it’s super tight. and we’re not that far off. Like I say, we're in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup and still in great position in Europe and there's the FA Cup.

"There's still everything to play for us this year to make it a season where we can have success. But we need some help, the players need some help more importantly, and the club is working really hard to try make that happen."

Lange working "under the radar" as Tottenham target Abdukodir Khusanov

According to Kilpatrick and Standard Sport, Lange is likely to make "under the radar" signings in January, but a firm target for the Lilywhites is RC Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov.

The young Uzbekistan international has impressed for Lens in Ligue 1 and could be available for around £25 million, according to other reports, which also suggest that Tottenham have come forward for Khusanov already in their search for central defensive options.

The reliable Kilpatrick confirms that Khusanov is indeed a January target for Tottenham, but they're not alone in their admiration, as Eddie Howe's Newcastle United also have the 20-year-old on their radar heading into next year.

"Kodir is very, very fast," said Lens head coach Will Still on Khusanov's ability.

"He’s an athlete. We joked that when he went to the Olympics, he could have done all sports with Uzbekistan, he’s so complete."

Tottenham Hotspur and European champions Real Madrid are both "really" keen on signing a player next year, but manager Ange Postecoglou's side actually hold a key advantage in the race for his signature, thanks to an "incredible" decision from Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.

Tottenham could reinforce squad with January signings

The Lilywhites have been dealt a plague of injury problems over the last few weeks, which has threatened to derail their hopes of both winning silverware and finishing in the Premier League top four.

Number one goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, Richarlison and Wilson Odobert won't be returning until after the new year, while Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Ben Davies have also been sidelined - leaving Postecoglou with precious few defensive selections.

The Australian's currently forced to partner Radu Dragusin - their only natural, senior centre-back option - with teenage summer signing Archie Gray at the heart of his backline, as the latter attempts to play a very unfamiliar role to the best of his ability.

As a result of their severe shortage in some areas of the squad, Postecoglou has hinted that January signings are a very real possibility for Spurs, but technical director Johan Lange won't be rushed into any panic buying either.

"We're in all the competitions, it's not like our schedule's going to ease up at any stage," said Postecoglou on the winter transfer window at Spurs.

"So I think it makes sense. We will try and reinforce where and what number we'll have to wait and see.

"You don’t just want to panic and bring in anybody that you don’t think will help our cause in the back half of the year, but I think we’ve already shown we are pretty methodical and prudent about our work. We’ll make sure we’ll bring somebody in who is going to help us."

Alongside January, Lange and Levy have been busy in their planning for the summer window as well.

Last summer, as part of a deal to sell Giovani Lo Celso to Real Betis, Spurs successfully negotiated both a first-option to buy midfielder Johnny Cardoso for around £26 million and a sell-on fee - if the USA international moves elsewhere.

Levy was specifically praised for this "incredible" deal by former England keeper Paul Robinson, with an update now coming to light on Cardoso's future, courtesy of Diario de Sevilla.

Tottenham and Real Madrid "really" want Real Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso

The Spanish newspaper, via Sport Witness, claims that Tottenham are "really" interested in taking up their first-refusal option to sign Cardoso - but they aren't the only side extremely keen on him.

Indeed, La Liga giants Real Madrid are also believed to be seriously fond of the 23-year-old, with AC Milan, Atletico Madrid and an unnamed La Liga side also billed as serious suitors for Cardoso.

However, Betis are reportedly "convinced" that Cardoso is set to join Tottenham next year, according to other media sources, so this could be one to keep an eye on.

While Tottenham's first-option clause isn't active until June, it gives them a key advantage over Real and Cardoso's legion of other interested teams for next summer - and verdicts on the midfielder suggest he could be worth a punt.

“They’re in a win-win situation at Tottenham,” said pundit Robinson to Football Insider in November, who described the option to buy deal made by Levy as "incredible".

“You either get a top player in great form, who’s almost doubled his value over the last six months, or they get a share when he’s sold for a fortune. It’s very much a Daniel Levy deal. It’s incredible. They get first dibs on a player, and if he doesn’t sign for them, they get a percentage of his sale.

“He’s still only 23, got 17 caps for the USA, and he’s got room to get better.

“He’s been playing very well for Betis this season, and he’s clearly a good player."

Tottenham Hotspur have been offered a "popular" Premier League defender who is also on the radar of La Liga champions Barcelona, amid reports that manager Ange Postecoglou is keen to reinforce his back line.

Ange Postecoglou hints at potential January signings for Tottenham

Postecoglou will be looking to make amends for his team's 6-3 humbling at home to Liverpool before Christmas this afternoon, with Spurs travelling to take on Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, but Nuno Espirito Santo's high-flying side pose no easy task either.

Forest, under the guidance of Tottenham's brief former manager, have emerged as this season's surprise outfit - and there is every reason to believe that they could secure a sensational finish in the European places.

Spurs, meanwhile, are looking to wrestle back any sort of momentum with their injury-ridden squad.

Postecoglou is set to be without Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Ben Davies against Forest, leaving the Australian with little choice but to partner Radu Dragusin with Archie Gray at the heart of his backline again.

Their lack of depth has been seriously exposed by this plague of injury problems, which has also led to reports that Tottenham are open to signing another centre-back in January as they bid to strengthen the squad.

Postecoglou suggests that the possibility of a new player joining next month is very much a real one, but he also insists that there will be no panic buying.

"We've been planning," said Postecoglou on the January transfer window.

"A lot of it was going to be around where we're at around this time. Fair to say we're still a little bit short in a couple of areas and we need to reinforce. But January's trickier in terms of what sort of players you can bring in. For us, ideal — for any club, I guess — you want to bring in people who are going to make you stronger. I think the fact that, obviously, we're still in the Carabao Cup semi-final, still got Europe, FA Cup, we're in all the competitions, it's not like our schedule's going to ease up at any stage. So I think it makes sense. We will try and reinforce where and what number we'll have to wait and see.

"You don’t just want to panic and bring in anybody that you don’t think will help our cause in the back half of the year, but I think we’ve already shown we are pretty methodical and prudent about our work. We’ll make sure we’ll bring somebody in who is going to help us."

Tottenham offered Crystal Palace defender Tyrick Mitchell on free transfer

While January is a huge topic of discussion right now, Spurs may have a golden opportunity to sign Crystal Palace star Tyrick Mitchell on a free transfer next summer.

That is according to The Boot Room, who write that Postecoglou's side are keen to bring in an alternative to Destiny Udogie at left-back and Tottenham have been offered the chance to sign Mitchell on a Bosman deal.

The 25-year-old has held talks over a contract extension at Selhurst Park, but they've failed to progress, with Spurs now floated Mitchell as a possibility to bring in at zero cost.