The 2025/26 campaign has been testing, to say the least, for Tottenham Hotspur.
After winning the Europa League under Ange Postecoglou, then relieving the Australian coach of his duties, fans were hopeful that a page had been turned, but on the edge of the Premier League season's midpoint, Thomas Frank's side are 11th, seven points off the top four.
Still, Crystal Palace were defeated at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon and that represented the turning of a corner. Spurs have more work to complete, but Frank was pleased with his side's spirit and togetherness and initiative.
However, support is needed ahead of the January transfer window, with Frank's midfield in particular need of investment.
Spurs' plans to sign a midfielder
Yves Bissouma has not played for Tottenham this season. Disciplinary reasons are behind it. The Malian is likely to leave in 2026, and a replacement must be found, with the partnership of Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur leaving much to be desired.
It was Archie Gray who flicked home with his head to score his first senior goal, securing three points at Palace and continuing Tottenham's impressive form on the road. Given that Spurs ranked 17th for away form in 2024/25, this is impressive, with more control and mettle on show.
But Gray is young, and Sofascore statistics reveal he has won only 28% of his duels in the Premier League this year. More experience and robustness is needed in the middle of the park.
And according to TEAMtalk's Dean Jones, Tottenham have held talks with intermediaries over the potential signing of Bayern Munich star Leon Goretzka, who is anticipated to leave the Allianz Arena in 2026.
The German, 30, is keen on a move to England after a career in his homeland, and his progressiveness on the ball could be perfect for a Lilywhites outfit who have struggled to create clear-cut chances with enough consistency.
Manchester United sniffed around last summer, and Bayern retorted with £34m transfer demands. Tottenham will be eyeing a lesser fee than that.
Why Goretzka is a Gray upgrade
Gray is a top talent, and Tottenham felt a rush of excitement when they hijacked Brentford's bid for the Leeds United prospect and signed him for about £30m in 2024.
He has already featured 59 times for the seniors, and is touted as a future Three Lions mainstay. But Gray's not there yet, and Goretzka would provide Tottenham with the elite experience they need.
Goretzka is into his third decade, but he's still a force to be reckoned with, a crisp and intelligent distributor with a tenacity that underpins his technical quality.
Quite simply, Frank would open up new midfield dimensions with Goretzka added to the pack. Just look at how he compares with Gray, whose efforts over the past 12 months have left something to be desired in regard to forward passing metrics.
Gray's statistics will have been somewhat skewed by his regular trips to defence last season, such was the severity of Spurs' injury crisis, but it still emphasises his inferiority.
He is understandably weaker than the £218k-per-week Goretzka, who has been dubbed a midfield "machine" by Die Roten teammate Aleksandar Pavlović, and it is for this reason that Tottenham should leap at the chance to sign him.
This is a German international whose career has been replete with silverware, including the Champions League in 2019/20 and no less than six separate Bundesliga titles.
His versatility as a central midfielder allows him to play in more advanced roles or as an anchor in front of the backline. Both duties require skill on the ball, athleticism and dynamism, and he has all of that and more.
Gray's time will come, and it's not as if he isn't being put to work by his north London employers. But Tottenham clearly need more in midfield if they are to hit their targets across Frank's first year, and with Goretzka preparing to leave Bayern Munich after so many years, ENIC might want to pounce nice and early, bringing him over for the second half of the season.