Tottenham Hotspur Transfer News and Rumours Tracker: Week of December 15

Tottenham face the approaching transfer window with what seems to suddenly be an established first team. 

Mauricio Pochettino had been making significant changes to his starting lineup in the early part of the season but seems to have settled on his first choice in recent weeks.

With the return of Kyle Walker, Spurs now have their preferred back four available while the young pair of Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb are established in central midfield. 

Pochettino has had the time to determine which of his players he will keep and which he is ready to move on in January. 

Tottenham's priority appears to be attacking reinforcements with several strikers linked this week. 

This article will be updated throughout the week as new stories and rumours emerge. 

Last updated: Monday, December 15.

Paul Mitchell Scouts Croatian Hotshot

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Paul Mitchell is expected to leave his mark on Spurs' squad. The former Southampton chief was reportedly spotted in Seville for Thursday night's Europa League clash between Sevilla and Rijeka, per the Sunday People (via the Daily Mirror). 

Andrej Kramaric, a prolific Croatian forward, has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs, including Chelsea and Leicester City, with the Foxes reportedly having a £7.9 million bid rejected. 

HereIsTheCity.com noted that Kramaric's contract expires in the summer so he is almost certainly available for the right price in January. 

Kramaric is only a slight player but appears to be an explosive talent. He has scored 21 league goals already this season. The next highest scorer, Duje Cop, has just 12. This streak has not come out of nowhere. In the last two seasons, Kramaric has scored 18 and 15 goals, respectively. 

Kramaric would be a gamble, given the shallow talent pool of Croatia's Prva HNL, but given that he would likely demand less than a £10 million fee, he seems as though he would be worth the risk. 

Spurs Join Chase for Birmingham Winger

Brian Dick of The Birmingham Mail is reporting that Spurs have joined the likes of Newcastle United and Liverpool in the chase for Birmingham City winger Demarai Gray. 

Gray gave a glimpse of his obvious talent in scoring a 34-minute hat-trick against Reading last weekend, and at just 18 years old, he is an exciting prospect. 

Speaking after the match, Gray denied ambitions to leave the Blues in January, saying, "I just concentrate on playing my football where I am right now and I am happy."

Gray has frightening pace and the close control to leave defenders in his wake. Certainly one for the future, Spurs would have a brilliant player to look forward to. 

Spurs Looking for Lloris Replacement?

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Hugo Lloris' form in 2014 has attracted the attention of the world's biggest clubs. If he were to leave, Spurs would suffer a serious blow. 

According to the Sunday People (via Tom Hopkinson of the Daily Mirror), Spurs have selected Tim Krul as the man to take over if Lloris does leave the club.

Newcastle have reportedly responded to Spurs' interest by demanding £20 million for their first-choice keeper.

That would be an astonishing fee for a keeper, eclipsed only by Gigi Buffon's £33 million move to Juventus in 2001. 

Even Manuel Neuer only cost Bayern Munich £19 million. 

Spurs would surely demand a world-record fee for Lloris if he were to leave the club but, even so, would likely baulk at such a fee for Krul. 

Lloris is one of the world's finest goalkeepers while Krul is an adequate Premier League player. 

Krul has been Newcastle's first choice in goal since 2010. In the intervening years, he has made several impressive appearances, including a record-setting match against Tottenham at White Hart Lane. Last November, Krul made 14 saves as Newcastle stunned Spurs, 1-0.

His heroics that day might have helped convinced Spurs that he is the man they want.