Tottenham Hotspur Must Reinforce Attack in January Transfer Window

Tottenham are on an excellent run of form. 

Five points off the top of the Premier League and one win outside the Champions League places in mid-November is a very promising situation. 

Harry Kane has rediscovered his scoring touch and has been a highly effective leader of Spurs' blossoming attack. 

Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli have been excellent while the reunion of former Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld has proven as inspired a move as shifting Eric Dier into midfield. 

Spurs have thrashed Manchester City at White Hart Lane and player Arsenal off the pitch away from home, proving they are a match for the Premier League's strongest teams. 

Built on the bedrock of a rigid back-line and the outstanding candidate for player of the season so far in Dier, Tottenham are as tough to beat as they have been in decades. 

Truly, Spurs are on the verge of something wonderful but not for the first time. 

In 2011, they knocked AC Milan out of the Champions League and were in contention to secure qualification to the next season's edition before running out of steam. 

In 2012 and 2013, Harry Redknapp and Andre Villas-Boas' teams were similarly on the precipice of success, but a failure to reinforce them in January led to disappointment. 

Once again, Spurs head into the busy winter period in good shape.

However, there are 26 league games remaining, more than twice as many as have already been played. 

A strong first-team will not be enough to maintain this trajectory. 

Spurs' squad possesses sufficient strength in depth in defence and midfield. 

Ben Davies, Nabil Bentaleb and Kevin Wimmer are all regular internationals but don't currently feature in Tottenham's strongest side. 

When Nacer Chadli returns, he will compete with Erik Lamela, Heung-Min Son and Eriksen for a place on the flanks. 

There is, though, no genuine competition or reliable back-up to Kane. 

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

Son, Chadli and even Moussa Dembele have played centrally on occasion for club or country but none can be expected to adequately replace Kane. 

Clinton Njie has also shown his limitations in his early appearances.

A significant injury to Kane would cruel any aspirations for Spurs' season and likely see them finish in mid-table. 

It is inevitable that either fatigue or a form slump will bite Kane before season's end, which makes the acquisition of reinforcements crucial. 

Spurs' pursuit of West Brom's Saido Berahino was made public by the Midlands club, and he is the obvious starting point for their winter search. 

Berahino has great pace and attacks so aggressively that he seems to be hunting opposition defenders. 

A Jermain Defoe-style single-mindedness means he would be the perfect foil for the creativity and vision of potential teammate Kane. 

Berahino has reportedly refused a contract extension, per David Kent of the Daily Mail, and now has just 18 months remaining while his form has been middling at best, scoring just three goals in 10 games this season.

Scott Heppell/Associated Press

If he was worth £21 million in the summer, it can be fairly assumed Tottenham could return with a lower bid in January. 

Newcastle's Ayoze Perez is a similar sort of player who has also been linked with a move, per Aaron Flanagan of the Mirror, to White Hart Lane. 

He is a more important player to Newcastle than Berahino is to the Baggies but is reportedly available for £15 million. 

Perez is less aggressive, more of a flair player than Berahino. He is comfortable out wide as well as leading the line. 

A third viable option appears to be Fulham's Moussa Dembele. GetWestLondon, has reported Spurs' interest. 

The Frenchman is in the final year of his contract with Fulham and would be available for a reduced fee. 

Dembele has eight goals in 18 appearances for a struggling side. Thriving as he has in the Championship is demonstrative of undoubted talent. 

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Njie is a project player, signed from Olympique Lyon in the summer on the potential he has shown rather than with expectations of fitting immediately into the team. 

Dembele would arrive with similar limitations and, with that in mind, seems the least likely alternative. 

Berahino, Perez and Dembele are each proven goalscorers in English football. 

There are numerous continental options but it is crucial that Spurs find a player who can bear the burden of playing alongside or in place of Kane. 

This has the potential to be a landmark campaign for Tottenham. 

A young talented team with a clear identity forged by an excellent manager make them a worthy rival for the league's best teams. 

Their potential is limited only by the club's ambition.