Tottenham Transfers: 7 January Buys to Bring Spurs the Premier League Title

Tottenham currently find themselves in virtually uncharted territory in the Premier League era. 

Usually by the time the New Year rolls around, it is only the cup competitions which still offer any hopes of silverware for Spurs.

But, they enter 2012 still very much in touch with the title-chasing pack. Should they win their game in hand on leaders Manchester City, they will be level just three points behind them—something which most of their younger fans will not have experienced before.

With injury-hit Manchester United and big-spending City almost certain to strengthen in the January transfer window, manager Harry Redknapp may have to use his fans' acumen in the market to bring on players who will keep Tottenham's title hopes alive.

Here are seven potential signings Spurs could make in January in order for them to bring home their first league title in 50 years.

Emiliano Viviano

Emiliano Vivano, who turned 26 last month, was one of the rising stars of Italian football following his impressive two-year spell at Bologna.

Upon moving to Inter Milan in the summer, the 6'5" goalkeeper damaged knee ligaments in preseason, denying him the chance to challenge Brazil's Julio Cesar for the No. 1 spot.

The Fiorentini had established himself as Italy's second-choice keeper behind the legendary Gianluigi Buffon, but now the fit-again Viviano is hoping to get a loan move to another club in order to prove himself to national team boss Cesare Prandelli.

His agent, Claudio Vigorelli, has admitted that a move to the Premier League could be in the cards.

"I don't think Palermo are an option, as they already have two keepers. It's useless to name clubs even if I have to admit that he could end up in England," Vigorelli said.

Tottenham may not be able to offer him a regular game, but with the erratic Heurelho Gomes and the aging Carlo Cudicini in the Spurs squad, Viviano would certainly provide top-class cover should anything happen to No. 1 Brad Friedel.

Aly Cissokho

It seems strange that Lyon's first-choice left-back Aly Cissokho should be agitating for a move away from the Stade Gerland. 

But, despite starting all 19 of OL's Ligue 1 games so far this season, both player and club have hinted that a move to the Premier League could be in the cards this month.

The former Porto defender would add a great deal of quality to the squad and could even push regular left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto for a starting place. 

The current alternatives are Sebastien Bassong, who came so close to leaving the club in the summer, and Gareth Bale, whose brilliance on the wing for Spurs means a move back to the defence would severely weaken Tottenham's attack.

Christopher Samba

This time last year, Christopher Samba publicly declared he wanted a move away from Blackburn Rovers after the club's new owners sacked Sam Allardyce and replaced him with coach Steve Kean. 

Since then, Rovers have been mired in a constant fight against relegation—something which will do little to convince Samba that he should not move on if the opportunity presents itself.

Samba was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal for much of the summer before the Gunners decided to sign Per Mertesacker instead.

Now, with Tottenham's own summer target seemingly on his way to Chelsea, they could do a lot worse than augment their injury-hit centre-back department with this big and fearsome defender who can also play a bit. 

Keisuke Honda

The Japanese midfielder's stock may not be as high as it was a season or two ago when he was starring in the Champions League with CSKA Moscow, but at 25 years old, Keisuke Honda remains a top-quality midfielder at an age where he still has his best years ahead of him.

A highly technical, creative forward player, Honda scores regularly for both club and country, often from his trademark free-kicks.

Tottenham are not exactly suffering from a dearth of creativity in their midfield, but with nagging doubts over Rafael van der Vaart's long-term fitness continuing to linger, Honda is about as close to a ready-made replacement as Spurs could ask for.

Milos Krasic

The recent injury to Tottenham right winger Aaron Lennon has opened up a worrying gap in the club's attacking unit which has been so irresistible at times this season.

They have still managed two wins and two draws in the four games since Lennon was injured, but those results have not been accompanied by the same dominant performances that characterised their brilliant run earlier in the season.

Milos Krasic is clearly surplus to requirements at Juventus, as they are unbeaten and top of Serie A despite the Serbian winger only featuring six times this season. Only last season, the 27-year-old showed what a danger he poses to defences, running at full-backs and cutting inside to great effect not unlike Lennon.  

Prising Krasic from Turin in the January transfer window would fill that gap nicely and also avoid an over-reliance on Gareth Bale.

Roberto Soldado

Emmanuel Adebayor has been a phenomenon since arriving at White Hart Lane on loan in the summer.

Many feared the Togolese striker would bring his baggage with him from Manchester City, but instead, he has brought his best form, so far scoring nine Premier League goals and setting up another six.

However, he could have had a lot more. In all, he has had 34 shots on target in a Tottenham shirt and has often needed half-a-dozen in a game before converting one.

While Jermain Defoe has starred in his intermittent starts and appearances from the bench, Spurs could do with another top-class striker in their ranks, and Roberto Soldado fits the bill.

In this European Championship year, Soldado is still not getting the game time for Spain that his high-scoring exploits for Valencia deserve. A productive five months in the Premier League could be just the boost his prospects need to see his international chances fully flourish. 

Leandro Damiao

Neymar may be hogging all of the attention as Brazil's young striking sensation, but Internacional forward Leandro Damiao is no slouch himself.

At the age of just 22, Damiao has already won the Campeonato Gaucho and the Copa Libertadores with the Porto Alegre club. Last season, he scored 14 goals in 28 appearances in the Campeonato Brasileiro.

Inter Milan have also targeted the Brazilian, but if Spurs can convince him that a spot in an upwardly-mobile Premier League is a better bet than a Serie A side very much in transition, they could pull of a considerable transfer coup.