For the most part, Tottenham Hotspur are going to be linked to wingers in the January 2026 transfer market, because their most immediate need is signing attacking players to up the tempo and dynamism of a squad that still struggles to score against some of the worst teams in the Premier League like Wolves and Nottingham Forest.
Thomas Frank has been unable to turn things around for Spurs in the Premier League with the personnel available despite the club adding Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons, and Randal Kolo Muani in a highly productive summer transfer window.
But Spurs also have a need for one more star player in the midfield. Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Pape Matar Sarr, and Simons are the future of this club, but in the present, Spurs need one more guy who can create, dribble, and rule the midfield as a true Premier League star.
Another Tottenham vs. Manchester United transfer battle?
Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest has been floated around as a dream option for Spurs, and he certainly auditioned well agains them in Forest's 3-0 victory over Spurs. The thing is, Manchester United are very hot on Anderson's heels and may the favorites for a breakout superstar who will have the rest of the Premier League Big Six very much after him.
According to the latest information from Mark Critchley and Laurie Whitwell of The Athletic, Nottingham Forest also understandably value Elliot Anderson very highly, and any Tottenham Hotspur fan dreaming of a January, mid season swoop ahead of Manchester United to sign the Forest star midfielder may want to think again. Whitwell and Critchley state that Forest currently have "no intention of selling yet" when it comes to Anderson, who is also Man United's first choice target.
Tottenham should not give up on Anderson as an option, because even though they have lost to Man United time and time again on the transfer market despite owning them in the Europa League Final, anything can happen on the transfer market, especially since Man United are after other targets like Carlos Baleba in midfield.
So in the summer 2026 transfer window, when it is more likely for Anderson to move and be tempted by a bigger club in England, Tottenham had better be sharp and ready for a move. But right now, in Janaury, there is pretty much close to a zero point zero percent chance that Anderson makes a move to the N17.