Thomas Frank has yet to truly make his mark at Tottenham since his summer appointment. The Danish head coach took over from the cup-winning Ange Postecoglou in north London, but his team currently languishes in the lower reaches of the Premier League.
Spurs are positioned 14th in the top flight after 17 matches and are a mere nine points clear of the drop zone, a situation that became all too familiar last season. Frank received backing in the summer, with Mohammed Kudus joining from West Ham and Xavi Simons also being recruited from RB Leipzig. Other players such as Joao Palhinha and Randal Kolo Muani have made their way into the first team following their transfers, but just like the previous season, losses have been all too common. Express Sport examines an ideal January transfer window that could cause a stir at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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Brennan Johnson sold
It is believed Spurs will have some funds available in January and the stars may align regarding a former wing target. However, it appears Brennan Johnson is on the brink of leaving Tottenham.
While the Welsh international will always be remembered by Spurs fans for his delicate touch in Bilbao, if Crystal Palace are prepared to part with £40m for his services, as suggested by reports from TEAMTalk, then it might be time to bid him farewell.
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Kudus has firmly established himself as a regular starter, his audacious runs pushing Johnson out of the first-team picture. The 24-year-old hasn't been as potent in front of goal as he was last season, particularly from the left flank.
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Savinho bid
Should Johnson depart, securing another versatile winger would be high on the agenda and one name stands out: Manchester City's Savinho. The Brazilian was heavily linked with a move to Spurs over the summer, but a deal failed to materialise. Instead, Savinho opted to battle for his place under Pep Guardiola, signing a two-year contract extension.
However, he has only started four Premier League matches this season. Savinho is being overshadowed by other players at City and while this didn't seem to bother the 21-year-old at the start of the season, the arrival of another star could sway him to leave. City are among several clubs reportedly interested in Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo.
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If Semenyo opts for City, Savinho's playing time could diminish further, potentially making the prospect of regular first-team action at Spurs more appealing. Given his recent contract extension, it's likely that Spurs would need to fork out around the £70million previously suggested if they wish to secure the Brazilian's services.
However, if the circumstances align favourably, he could be persuaded. A wing duo of Kudus on the right and Savinho on the left would induce nightmares in full-backs and could deter teams from doubling up on the former West Ham star.
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Ivan Toney joins
While adding another dynamic winger to Frank's arsenal would offer a new dimension, one of Tottenham's main problems this season has been scoring goals. With Dominic Solanke sidelined for an indefinite period, Richarlison has risen to the challenge.
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Sharing duties with Kolo Muani, the pair have performed adequately, with Richarlison leading the club's goal tally with eight in all competitions.
That's more than Viktor Gyokeres, but Micky van de Ven is just two goals shy of his total and in some matches this season he has looked miles off the pace.
Solanke was fairly prolific last year and it's expected that once fit, he'll resume his role, given we haven't really seen how he can perform under Frank.
However, if Solanke's injury worsens, action should be taken in January. Spending heavily on a new striker just over a year after signing Solanke for a potential £65m wouldn't be prudent, but a cost-effective option is clearly available to Frank.
Tottenham were previously linked with Ivan Toney before his high-profile move to Saudi Arabia and with a World Cup looming, now might be the perfect time for a reunion. Toney flourished under Frank at Brentford, so his system would naturally suit the Englishman.
At 29, he's not past his prime and despite not playing at the top level, he would undoubtedly be eager to impress in Thomas Tuchel's summer squad.
Rumours suggest he could be snapped up for £20m and although his salary might pose a challenge, taking a chance on Toney could prove fruitful.