Tottenham Transfers: Top Prospects at Spurs' Affiliated Clubs

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Tottenham, like any other major club in the world, has affiliations with teams in domestic leagues that reach far beyond Europe.

These affiliated clubs, which play in smaller markets and have less talent overall, act as a sort of reserve pool for the bigger clubs playing in larger markets.

For example, La Liga's Real Madrid is affiliated with Real Salt Lake of the MLS.  How many people have heard of Real Madrid?  Lots.  How many have heard of Real Salt Lake?  Significantly less. 

But Real Madrid regularly gives players on Real Salt Lake tryout sessions.

Tottenham's affiliated clubs may not be some of the most well-known in the world, but they provide an incredible opportunity should a player or two rise above the rest and show himself to be worthy of the Premier League.

With the winter transfer window approaching, all of Tottenham's affiliated clubs have players worthy of coming to White Hart Lane. 

But who does Tottenham affiliate themselves with, and what players should Harry Redknapp take a closer look at?

Join me as I give you the top prospects from all of Tottenham's affiliated clubs.

Fabian Guedes (Sport Club Internacional)

Sport Club Internacional is the most well-known of all of Tottenham's affiliated clubs. 

They've won the Brazilian league title three times and the Club World Cup as recently as 2006, but last year only finished fifth—11 points away from champions Corinthians. 

Although the club didn't finish close to the top, SC Internacional only conceded 43 goals all season, averaging just over one goal per game.

It was fifth-best in the league; the club owes a lot of credit to Fabian Guedes, a central defender who has been with SC International since 2009.

He'd only be 31 years old in the second half of the Premier League season and could provide some much needed help at the center back position as the Spurs head into spring.

Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

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Even though the San Jose Earthquakes regularly finish near the bottom of the table in the MLS, there is a striker on the team who is getting serious consideration for the U.S. national team from new manager Jurgen Klinsmann.

Forward Chris Wondolowski scored 16 goals for San Jose last season, which is incredible considering the rest of the team scored 24 goals combined. 

He's the heartbeat of their offense and one of the most valuable players in the league.

Tottenham has a wealth of strikers, but it might do well to give Wondolowski a tryout to see how he does against some better competition than the MLS can offer.

Morgan Gould (SuperSport United)

SuperSport United is one of the best teams in the South African Premier League, winning titles in three of the last four years. 

This last season, they finished seventh in the table, but it wasn't because of declining play from one of their best players, Morgan Gould.

Gould is a South African international soccer player who played in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, but missed out on the 2010 World Cup due to injury.

He was defender for SuperSport United when they won three titles in a row (2008, 2009 and 2010) and is an asset in the box, scoring 13 goals off of set pieces and corner kicks.

Tottenham could use all the help they can get at defense, especially a player who's adept at putting the ball in the back of the net.

Li Haiqiang (South China AA)

Runners-up in the Hong Kong First Division last year, South China AA is the most popular club in Hong Kong, regularly selling out games at a stadium that holds 40,000 fans.

Captain Li Haiqiang has been with the club since 2006 and helped bring the club four titles since he's been there.

If Tottenham lets go of Luka Modric, Haiqiang would be a great player to look at.  He plays the same role as Modric—that of a holding midfield.

Haiqiang is 34 years old, but he's shown himself to be a big fish in a small pond. 

Maybe it's time to see how he does against the big boys of the Premier League.