The January transfer window is finally upon us, and Tottenham Hotspur fans will be keeping a keen eye on their side's incomings and outgoings as Antonio Conte moulds the squad into his own vision.
The Lilywhites have gone up a gear since the arrival of the Premier League and Serie A-winning coach and are firmly in the mix for a top-four spot at the midway point of the season.
While Spurs may seek to shift some of the deadwood in North London, Conte has been tipped to reunite with numerous stars of Serie A in 2022, but rumours are swirling from leagues across the globe.
Here, Sports Mole takes a look at five players that Tottenham could attempt to sign in January.
© Reuters
A blank goals and assists column after 17 Premier League games is certainly abysmal for a player of Adama Traore's explosive calibre, but the Wolverhampton Wanderers man continues to be linked with moves to Champions League-chasing clubs regardless.
The 25-year-old's contract stand-off with Wolves means that he is yet to commit to a new deal beyond the summer of 2023, and the Molineux side will be under pressure to sell if he refuses to pen fresh terms.
With Lucas Moura struggling to make a consistent impression and Bryan Gil still far from the finished product, Antonio Conte could do far worse than one of the league's most successful dribblers - that is if he can unlock Traore's absent end product.
Recent reports have claimed that Wolves may be willing to sanction a sale for as little as £20m in January, but that lack of direct contributions could yet come back to haunt the former Barcelona man.
© Reuters
One of the very first names to be linked with a move to Tottenham following the arrival of Conte, Serie A winner Stefan de Vrij would represent quite the improvement on Spurs' backline.
The 29-year-old is another player who, like Traore, is due to become a free agent in 18 months' time, and at this moment in time an extension to his Nerazzurri deal does not appear to be imminent.
However, Inter are still well-placed to command a sizeable figure for De Vrij, who has remained one of their key players in the post-Conte era with 14 Serie A starts this season.
The Dutchman's possible January signing would represent a true statement of intent from Conte's Tottenham, but it would not be surprising to see the Lilywhites shift their focus to left-footed centre-backs instead, especially with Cristian Romero set to return from injury later this month.
© Reuters
Philippe Coutinho still being at Barcelona in 2022 is beyond comprehension to some, with the £121m man seemingly being linked with a different Premier League club every month as his Catalan difficulties continue.
With only 18 months left to run on his deal at Camp Nou and early indications showing that forcing his way into Xavi's first XI will be far from a cakewalk, an exit this year is surely on the cards before Barca risk losing their nine-figure attacker on a free in 2023.
Spurs could certainly do with some Premier League-proven attacking inspiration during their Champions League charge, but injuries have not been kind to Coutinho in recent months, and a 30th birthday in 2022 may also deter some interested parties.
The former Liverpool man is also reported to be considering a switch to Spurs' bitter North London rivals Arsenal, with his underwhelming time at Camp Nou certainly not hindering his prospects of a return to England too much.
© Reuters
Uncertainty lingers over the future of one of Conte's previous midfield enforcers, as Marcelo Brozovic is now free to enter talks with foreign clubs after entering the final six months of his Nerazzurri deal.
The Serie A champions are coming under increasing pressure to find an agreement with the Croatian within the next few weeks, otherwise the prospect of a cut-price move to Spurs to reunite with Conte could certainly be on the cards.
With 25 starts under his belt in all competitions this season, Inter will not allow Brozovic to be on his merry way without a fight, and the 29-year-old knows that the ball is firmly in his court.
Tanguy Ndombele and Harry Winks's possible exits could very well open up a spot for Brozovic to head to North London, but Spurs will not be alone in pining for the soon-to-be free agent's services.
© Reuters
The right-wing back area is believed to be a priority position for improvement for Tottenham, with Matt Doherty rumoured to be on his way out of the club in the near future.
Emerson Royal has not exactly enjoyed the start to life in North London that he would have envisaged, and that is where Sergino Dest could come in, with the 21-year-old allegedly considering a move away from Barcelona.
Dest has popped up with a couple of assists as a right winger in Barca's 4-3-3 and could thrive at wing-back under Conte, but his contract situation means that the Blaugrana will still be able to command a hefty figure.
Ben Knapton
