One week. That's how long Spurs have to find at least two new players. If they don't, then I feel the season could pan out much like last year's. There must be no repeat, however, of the short-term panic buys there was last January. The two players Spurs picked up then were Ryan Nelsen and Louis Saha; both players were committed to the cause but neither were season-changers.
That window's lack of meaningful action was a contributing factor to last season's capitulation, but I can understand, in hindsight, chairman Daniel Levy's reluctance to spend with the then-manager Harry Redknapp's future uncertain.
Now, however, there should be no excuse. Coach Andre Villas-Boas is the club's future and he needs backing. There are two positions which the Portuguese must demand be strengthened and, for me, both carry equal priority.
Firstly, a creative midfielder is sorely needed. Throughout the season opposition have come to White Hart Lane with one mindset: to frustrate. They 'park the bus' and play on the counter but Villas-Boas' side lacks the imagination or spark to defeat this. Clint Dempsey and Gylfi Sigurdsson have so far failed to provide this creativity and therefore a genuine trequartista has to be brought in now.
Enter Lewis Holtby. The German has already signed a pre-contract with Spurs which will see him join in the summer, but I think it is imperative that Levy sanctions a small fee for the Schalke player to link-up with the team this January. The 22-year-old put in a man-of-the-match performance against Hannover last week with one goal and two assists. He is exactly what Spurs could do with now.
The other priority is a striker. Jermain Defoe's form has dipped recently whilst Emmanuel Adebayor has not had any such form all season. There is simply not enough firepower in the Spurs ranks to ensure Champions League qualification.
Rumours are abound that Spurs are looking at Celtic's Gary Hooper. I hope this never comes to fruition as the rumoured £8m fee is far too much for such a player. Other players on the radar include Sevilla's Alvaro Negredo, who could be an interesting option, and the Brazilian Leandro Damiao. Be it loan or a permanent deal, a forward of some pedigree must be acquired.
Lessons, though, will have hopefully been learned from that window a year ago and this time I would love to see two quality, meaningful players added to Villas-Boas' squad.
