Tottenham Transfer News: Latest Rumours on James Rodriguez and Franck Kessie

Tottenham Hotspur won't be able to sign James Rodriguez after Real Madrid ruled out selling the Colombian playmaker, according to reports from Spain. Los Blancos have seen their FIFA-imposed transfer ban reduced, but still value James, a player Spurs are said to have scouted this year.

A report from Spanish radio station Cadena SER (h/t TalkSport) has revealed Tottenham and Premier League rivals Manchester United won't be able to buy James in January: "Real Madrid are very reluctant to let the player go in the upcoming transfer window, as they do not believe they will have time to find a suitable replacement."

The reports also indicated how James has been watched by both "Tottenham and United, who have scouted James over the past year." Spurs have been linked with James for a while.

The north London club were said to be competing with both United and local rivals Arsenal for the player's signature back in September, according to Italian source Calciomercato (h/t TalkSport).

Such longstanding interest is understandable considering James' talent. At his best, the 25-year-old is a terrific technician between the lines, a player with a keen eye for goal and defence-splitting passes.

However, the South American attacker can also be wildly inconsistent. James doesn't always give maximum effort, a shame considering how gifted the dynamic No. 10 is.

Real manager Zinedine Zidane may believe it's worth keeping James if he can unlock the player's talent at key moments this season. Los Merengues are leading La Liga and hoping to retain the UEFA Champions League trophy.

A match-winner like James can be a major asset to a squad chasing trophies on multiple fronts.

The idea Zidane and Real won't find a replacement if they let James go this winter has merit, even though the club has seen its transfer ban reduced. Real are now free to purchase players from next summer after the Court of Arbitration for Sport limited the ban to this winter's window, per a statement from the club (h/t the Daily Star's Rhys Turrell).

James may be forced to wait until next summer before he can move on, a situation Tottenham will surely monitor.

Spurs Credited with £20 Million Bid for Atalanta Ace

Tottenham have reportedly offered £20 million for Atalanta's young star Franck Kessie, according to Calciomercato (h/t Goal). The bid is said to be intended to move Spurs ahead of Juventus and London rivals Chelsea in the race to sign the Ivory Coast ace.

Spurs' chances of eventually landing Kessie have received a major boost recently. The boost comes from Serie A giants Juve backing out of the race for the midfield gem also wanted by Arsenal, per another report from Calciomercato.

Kessie is a rising talent, a player with the physical power, natural drive and technical acumen to quickly make the grade in England's top flight. Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino would find a place for him, even though his squad is well-stocked in the middle.

Victor Wanyama and Eric Dier are accomplished holding players. Further forward, Mousa Dembele adds craft and skill to matches. So does Danish maestro Christian Eriksen.

Despite their midfield quality, Spurs haven't been shy about adding touted youngsters on Pochettino's watch. He signed Dele Alli and winger Georges-Kevin N'Koudou to bolster an already young and deep squad.

The 20-year-old Kessie would make sense as another precocious prospect to aid Pochettino's bid to eventually make Spurs title winners. Yet that big step up is only likely to be taken with the aid of some star power, the kind a player such as James would provide.