As the January transfer window comes to a conclusion, Tottenham - once again - have failed to dip into the market and add to their depleted squad.
One player that had been linked with a move to London was the highly-rated Youri Tielemans. The 21-year-old central midfielder has joined Leicester - and Tottenham have missed out on an absolute steal.
Injuries to Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Ben Davies and temporary departure of Son Heung-min to participate in the Asian Cup have inevitably taken their on Spurs as they crashed out of two cup competitions in the space of a week.
For @SkyFootball, @BenMcAleer1 takes a closer look at Youri Tielemans and assesses whether Leicester is the best fit for the Belgian -- https://t.co/cuxrRtGjiS pic.twitter.com/nwUBcPesJK
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) January 31, 2019
With evaporating title hopes, the hope of some silverware for Mauricio Pochettino's dusty cabinet rests on the, frankly improbable, chances of success in the Champions League with his thin squad.
Since Leonardo Jardim's reappointment as Monaco boss, Tielemans' time at the Stade Louis II was always coming to an end. The pair were never close during Jardim's first stint at the club and he was open to the possibility of cashing in on the young Belgian after just 18 months since his £22m arrival from Anderlecht - despite the excellent form of the midfielder.
This gave a chance for Spurs to really drive a hard bargain for the gifted youngster as their own problems mounted. For a prolonged spell, Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko played every minute with just inexperienced teenager Oliver Skipp for backup as Mauricio Pochettino's options were limited.
Tottenham now appear to be content with their midfield options - having recently sold Mousa Dembele
To compete at the highest level and cope with the rigorous demands of the Premier League - alongside the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Champions League competitions - strength in depth is a necessity. Tottenham simply do not have this.
Bringing in
However, with their inability to rotate and rest key players, Tottenham face an uphill struggle to cling on to their credible third place in the Premier League. Time will tell whether
Source : 90min