Tottenham Hotspur picked up a hard-earned point against Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday evening, but Thomas Frank's hopes of leading the Lilywhites into European competition next season continue to dwindle.
It was telling that when Antoine Semenyo converted after the break to make it 2-0, the feeling around N17 was one of resignation, the groans chorusing out in a well-known song. Few foresaw the comeback.
But Spurs did come back, and there is life yet inside this squad, who might be down but are certainly not out, straight through to the last 16 in the Champions League and only five points away from the Premier League's top eight, 14th though they are.
Dominic Solanke is providing Spurs with a focal point up front, but with it nearly two months since three Premier League points were secured on home soil, there's no question that more defensive stability is needed.
Spurs submit bid for new centre-back
There is a strange dichotomy between the calibre of Tottenham's defensive talent and the lowly position they find themselves in, with the backline porous and shaky on the regular.
Injuries have not helped, but Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have struggled even as they stand proud as Spurs' best players.
Tottenham need a new centre-back to bolster their backline. As Radu Dragusin returned from a long-term layoff against Manchester City, he left something to be desired, and given that reports have linked the 23-year-old with a move to Serie A side Roma this month, ENIC Group may want to get their wallets out.
Perhaps they already have. According to Spanish sources, Tottenham have submitted a bid for Barcelona centre-half Ronald Araujo, with La Blaugrana said to be analysing the €35m (£30m) package.
The 26-year-old is not having his best season in Spain, but he's long been regarded as one of the most talented defenders in the world, and a change of scenery could help reignite his career.
A separate report outlines late Tottenham interest in Al-Nassr's Jhon Duran, who is struggling on loan at Fenerbahce. A resolution regarding the young striker, so mercurial and dangerous, will be reached in the coming hours, but Lange and co are fast on Araujo's case too.
Why Spurs should sign Araujo
Dragusin blundered against Manchester City: it was his errant clearance that was intercepted and redirected toward Antoine Semenyo, who scored.
That's the latest in a long line of errors that are inhibiting Frank's side this season, and a freshening-up of the defensive ranks could end up paying dividends for a side who are punching well below their weight class once again in the Premier League.
Thus, it's clear why a concerted effort is being placed on landing Araujo, adding an elite centre-back to the ranks. Should Spurs pull this one off, it's hard to see Dragusin fashioning a key role in the Londoners' plans, especially when considering the rumours already surfacing this month.
Barca boss Hansi Flick has described him as a "leader" and "one of the best in the world" before, and despite being hindered by injuries and personal problems, has the potential to become the leading man in Frank's backline.
A man for the big moments, he might benefit from a move away from Camp Nou, where the toxicity levels have been rising after his struggles there.
Also regarded as an “athletic monster”, Araujo has the quality and frame to rival the likes of Van de Ven and prove a massive upgrade on Dragusin, who struggled to impress even before he sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury against Elfsborg in the Europa League last season.
The Romanian defender returned against Manchester City and was afforded little time to scrape away the rust as City ran rampant before the break. He should have closed down Rayan Cherki for the away side's opener as well as ceding possession for City's second.
While Araujo hasn't been in the best of form this season, he is clearly unsettled in Catalonia and could return to his strongest form by moving to Tottenham and playing alongside some of the most robust and talented defenders in England.
He will bounce back, for sure, and Spurs are in the process of ensuring it happens in a Lilywhites shirt.
Dragusin did well against Pep Guardiola's title-chasing side, all things considered. He kept Erling Haaland quiet and, in that, he made amends after a shaky first half.
But Araujo is quite simply cut from finer cloth, and if Tottenham want to rise from their plight, they must sign top talents to finally return to form and sustain it.