Tottenham Transfer News: Lewis Holtby to Join Spurs in January

Just a few weeks after clinching a move to Tottenham that was supposed to take place over the summer, Schalke midfielder Lewis Holtby joined Spurs six months early on Monday. 

Tottenham released a statement on their website and posted a tweet on their official Twitter account to confirm the move on Monday afternoon. 

The North London club had been in hot pursuit of Holtby's early arrival from the Bundesliga ever since Sandro went down with a season-ending injury on January 12 against Queens Park Rangers. 

Holtby will most likely step into the vacant spot in the center of midfield that Sandro left open after he suffered his injury. 

Since Sandro's injury, Scott Parker has lined up alongside Moussa Dembele in the Spurs formation, but it looks as though the England international will be sent to the bench in favor of Holtby. 

Holtby joined Schalke in 2009 from Alemannia Aachen and has been sent out on to VfL Bochum and Mainz during his time with the Gelsenkirchen club. 

In 22 Bundesliga matches this season, Holtby has scored four goals and provided seven assists. 

Holtby's most recent standout performance came on January 18 in Schalke's 5-4 win over Hannover, when he scored a goal and provided two assists.

The 22-year-old Germany international has also appeared in all six of Schalke's UEFA Champions League matches this season, when he has provided an additional three assists. 

It is unknown whether or not Holtby will be in the Spurs lineup for Wednesday's trip to Norwich City, but expect the German to be in uniform for Sunday's trip to the Hawthorns to play West Bromwich Albion.

For more transfer updates on Tottenham and the EPL, stay tuned to Bleacher Report all week and follow me on Twitter, @JTansey90.