Keys to a Successful January Transfer Window for Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham have reached January with the same manager they began the season. That is not supposed to be an achievement, but for Spurs, it is. 

More significantly, at the halfway point of the season Spurs are still in every competition and right in the hunt for an elusive top-four place. 

This season was always expected to be one of transition, the first in several years in which falling short of the Champions League places would not have been seen as a failure. With a new coach and a largely underwhelming squad, many fans would have been satisfied with an upper mid-table finish and a cup run. 

With the transfer window opening this week, Mauricio Pochettino and the Spurs board must consider whether their goals have now shifted. 

If they feel that the unique circumstances of this season have created the optimum opportunity to make that final push, they must back their manager in January. 

Even if this is to be another failed attempt to return to the promised land, Spurs could use reinforcements at this juncture. 

With Spurs ahead of schedule under Pochettino, this could be seen as a crucial transfer window. The right moves could set the club up for this season and beyond, while a significant misstep could undermine the progress and send the club right back to square one. 

Here are the three keys to a successful January transfer window for Spurs.  

January Sales

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Tottenham's squad is far too big to sustain any January additions without first shedding some players that are not major contributors. 

Mauricio Pochettino has had half a season to determine which of his players are good enough to stay and which are not up to the task. 

Any departures must be carefully considered. 

Kyle Naughton is an instructive example. He is unlikely to play regularly again for Spurs, given the players in front of him at left and right-back. He is third-choice (at best) in both positions, so would seemingly be an obvious candidate to be sold. 

However, Spurs would take an unnecessary risk in selling the young Englishman. He will not command a significant fee and is an able deputy should they suffer an injury crisis in defence. 

Instead, Spurs should look to move on the players that will play no role in their future. Benoit Assou-Ekotto is the obvious first player to be sold but with his recalcitrance to accept a move in the summer, it may be difficult to find a suitor. 

Similarly, Aaron Lennon should be moved on. Like Naughton, he could play a small role in the remaining months of the season but would command a fee approaching £10 million. Many clubs have expressed interest in acquiring Lennon in the past—QPR, for example, are reported to be interested by Matt Law of the Telegraph—and that could be put to good use. 

While many players could be sold in this window, any newspaper reports of mass clear-outs can safely be ignored. The squad is clearly developing a harmony. So many late wins and so few capitulations speak to that spirit. Too many departures would unnecessarily threaten that balance. 

Some players will certainly depart. Of both Aaron Lennon and Andros Townsend, one will almost certainly be gone in the next month, while the enigmatic Emmanuel Adebayor could also move on if Spurs can find a buyer. 

No Need to Panic Buy

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January can be the place to find the final piece of the puzzle. A shrewd acquisition in the winter window can galvanize the playing group and stiffen the resolve of the fans. 

While this is certainly the case, clubs must tread lightly as January signings flop more often than not. 

Signings like Fernando Torres, Andy Carroll and Spurs' very own Gilberto are just a few examples of players that have made big moves in January only to utterly fail at their new clubs. 

A new player enters the club without the experience and knowledge of how the club plays and how things are done. For summer signings, a pre-season enables them to clear this hurdle more easily but, in the case of January, players are generally thrown into matches immediately. 

While this affords the chance to make an instant impact, it is realistically not the best way to deal with a new arrival. 

These caveats count double in the case of Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham. 

His demanding training methods and complex game plans took several months to take hold at Spurs. Players like Christian Eriksen admitted to being confused as to what the new manager was asking of them. 

Now, with Spurs in excellent touch, those lessons appear to have been learned by the current squad. 

Any new signing would join the club without the requisite fitness levels and understanding of Pochettino's complicated instructions. 

Spurs certainly have weaknesses that could be addressed in January.

With Harry Kane in great form and Roberto Soldado playing his role from the substitutes bench, Spurs are not desperate for striking reinforcements, but an additional goal threat would strengthen their campaign across the various competitions. 

Spurs' reported pursuit of Jackson Martinez makes a lot of sense, but they are likely to be priced out of the market by their rivals. Roma are, according to the Express, the current favourites to secure his signature. 

While Spurs could use an injection of pace, with Aaron Lennon and Andros Townsend both failing to impress, there are few viable options available around Europe. Birmingham's Demarai Gray appears an excellent prospect but would be unlikely to make the difference for Spurs this season. 

Instead of buying for the first team in January, Spurs should use this window to strengthen the squad with players that, in time, could vie for a starting role. 

That approach is unlikely to negatively impact on the current campaign and would pay greater dividends in the long run. 

Playing the Loan Market

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Spurs have been reluctant to spend big in January in the past. However, they do have a history of using the loan market to subsidise their squad in the winter window.

The signing of Eidur Gudjohnsen in 2010 gave experience to a talented young squad and helped to achieve Champions League football. 

There are certain to be players available across Europe that would benefit from a loan spell with Spurs. 

Many fans have given up on Paulinho ever reaching the potential he showed with Corinthians and Brazil (before the World Cup). He has been given ample opportunities in many different positions but has only ever really shown glimpses of his best form. 

While it may seem like the time is right to cut their losses on the Brazilian, Spurs would do better to find a good club to take him on loan. 

Ideally, Spurs would find a Premier League team to take Paulinho for the remainder of the season. It would give him more time on the pitch while helping him continue to adapt to English life. A move into Europe would also be helpful for Paulinho as the pace might better suit his game. 

However, given Pochettino's reputation for working with and improving players, it's possible that he will refuse to send the Brazilian away. 

Vlad Chiriches has been heavily linked with a loan move to Roma, including this report from Il Tempo (via Football Italia) which would likely be the prelude to a sale. If Pochettino has determined that Chiriches is too much of a liability, this seems like a prudent course of action. It could also be the perfect arena for him to develop. 

Roma are unlikely to be often forced to defend deep. Instead, as they dominate most games, Chiriches would be forced to develop his maturity and concentration. Those are his two greatest flaws, so a spell in Rome could be just the thing to hasten his development. 

Former Barcelona academy star Cristian Ceballos recently revealed to Marca that he is anxious to leave the club (h/t HereistheCity.com and Inside Spanish Football). If Pochettino does not think he is ready to play a role in his squad, he should try to find an appropriate destination for the young Spaniard on loan. Ceballos is brilliantly skillful and, while not particularly quick, has a rapid footballing brain. With the right cultivation, he could yet develop into a first-team talent. 

Spurs' academy has earned significant praise this season as Ryan Mason and Harry Kane have nailed down starting roles in the first-team. 

Key to the development of both players though, has been their time away from the club on loan. 

Many of Spurs' next crop of young stars would benefit from similar time out in the real world. 

Shaquile Coulthirst, currently on loan at Southend United, is benefiting from such a spell, while Brentford loanee Alex Pritchard is similarly blossoming. 

The loan market can help Pochettino improve his options in the first-team while also enabling him to get vital game time to out-of-favour members of his squad.