Tottenham Transfers: 5 January Targets AVB Should Go After Aggressively

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Tottenham have enjoyed a good start to the English Premier League season, but just like all the other 19 clubs in the league they could use some improvements to their squad.

That is where the January transfer window comes into play as Spurs have some needs that they need to fill.

Manager Andre Villas-Boas (AVB) filled up the attacking part of midfield in the summer by bringing in Clint Dempsey, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Moussa Dembele and now has to turn his focus to the defensive midfield and forward positions.

Here are five players that AVB should pursue when the January transfer window rolls around.

Joao Moutinho

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There should not a be an article mentioning potential Tottenham transfers that excludes the name of Porto midfielder Joao Moutinho.

Moutinho, who previously played under AVB while the Spurs manager was at Porto, would fit into the defensive midfield role that is currently occupied by Sandro and Moussa Dembele.

The addition of Moutinho would give Dembele more freedom to play in a more forward position, most likely in the middle of the attacking midfield trio, and would solidify the defensive midfield position.

AVB will also has Tom Huddlestone on the roster to back up the defensive midfield duo but he would much rather have the 26-year-old Moutinho in that position.

Wilfried Zaha

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Every big English club will be after the signature of 20-year-old Crystal Palace forward, Wilfried Zaha.

The attention on Zaha grew exponentially in the past week when he was named to the England squad by Roy Hodgson for the friendly against Sweden on Wednesday.

Zaha has been a crucial figure in the Crystal Palace squad that sits at the top of the Championship right now and he could be bought away from Selhurst Park in January.

If he were to sign for Spurs, Zaha would be employed out on the wing as cover for Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale, who have started every match this season for Spurs with the exception of the two matches Bale missed due to the birth of his child.

Not only would Zaha provide cover for two world-class wingers, but it would also be a big transfer coup for Spurs to take him away from other big EPL clubs like Arsenal.

Yann M'Vila

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If the pursuit of Moutinho ends in a failure like it did this summer, Spurs should go after Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila.

M'Vila will fill the same void in the defensive midfield position and it seems as if the 22-year-old French midfielder is not getting a lot of playing time in Ligue 1 this season.

M'Vila has been placed behind Jean Makoun and Vincent Pajot in the defensive midfield at Rennes.

Although he will not be the first choice for Villas-Boas at the position, he is worth going after now while his value is down.

One reason for Spurs not to go after the 22-year-old is his disciplinary record as he was just suspended by the French national team until 2014 due to his night out on town in between U-21 Euro qualifiers with Norway in October.

Willian

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Shakhtar Donetsk playmaker Willian has shown why he was given plenty of attention by Tottenham and Chelsea in the summer with his spectacular play in the Champions League.

Willian has lined up on the left wing for Shakhtar in the Champions League but he is very versatile player who could line up anywhere in Villas-Boas' attacking midfield.

The Brazilian also plays in the 4-2-3-1 that AVB employs at Tottenham, so he will be no stranger to how the club operates on the pitch.

The one problem with moving for Willian is that he will have to compete with Gareth Bale for the spot on the left wing, a spot which Bale is not giving up anytime soon.

Daniel Sturridge

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Tottenham are in need of a forward and could find the answer to their problems in Daniel Sturridge.

Sturridge would give established forwards Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor a rest for the Europa League and FA Cup matches while earning more experience that he would have at Chelsea.

The signing of a third strong forward could also give Villas-Boas the option of playing with two forwards from the start like he did in the club's last Europa League match with Maribor.

Bringing in Sturridge from Chelsea may be difficult, but it will be easier than going after Leandro Damiao and failing to sign the Brazilian once again.