We used Football Manager 2026 to find out what Tottenham Hotspur’s January transfer business might look like
Sign up to our LondonWorld Today newsletter
Sign up
Thank you for signing up!
Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to LondonWorld, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.
Submitting...
It has been an inconsistent 2025-26 for Tottenham Hotspur under Thomas Frank.
Spurs were beaten 5-3 by Paris Saint-Germain in their last Champions League outing - which came off the back of a 4-1 loss to Arsenal in the North London derby.
Tottenham opted for Frank as their new manager after sacking Ange Postecoglou. The North London outfit had won the Europa League under the ex-Celtic boss but a 17th-placed finish in the Premier League could not be overlooked by the club’s owners.
After 12 games, Spurs have 18 points with five wins, three draws and four defeats. Their home form has been questionable as they look to give their own fans something to celebrate against Fulham.
Whatever happens on Saturday night and in the December fixtures, Spurs need to look to the January market to bolster their squad. We have used one of the most popular and realistic simulation tools available - Football Manager 2026 to take a look at what Spurs’ January transfer business might look like.
Incoming transfers
On the incoming front, Spurs are predicted to get a £13m deal done with Espanyol to sign Omar El Hilali. The Spanish-born Moroccan international has been with the La Liga side his entire career and plays as a right-back.
The 22-year-old would be the biggest Tottenham signing in January if the prediction from Football Manager came true. Napoli defender Mathías Olivera also joins Spurs in the simulated window while young forward Mason Melia joined on a £2m deal from Irish side St Patrick’s Athletic.
He is 18-years-old and an Under-21 Republic of Ireland international. He has yet to earn a senior cap so would not be somebody for the immediate future. The prediction does not forecast any forward additions at Spurs that would make an instant impact - which is something Tottenham fans will hope does not come true.
Outgoing transfers
The most surprising outgoing that was predicted was defender Djed Spence heading out on loan to Manchester United. The defender has become a key player for Spurs over the last 12 to 18 months and has played in 11 of the club’s 12 Premier League games this season - as well as appearing in all five Champions League games.
United need defensive reinforcements and Spence would be a smart option but he is not somebody Spurs would want to lose.
Another exit is Ben Davies, who joins Juventus for £10m in the simulation. Other exits involve younger players leaving for more experience with Tyrell Ashcroft heading to Tranmere Rovers while Callum Olusesi joins Grimsby Town - both on loan.
Brandon Austin also departs North London, heading to Bournemouth.
The above deals are all just a prediction, of course, but Spurs fans will hope to see their need for a goal-scorer properly addressed once the January window opens.