Ornstein: Tottenham unlikely to spend in January transfer window

The new year — and the January transfer window — are nearly upon us, but according to the Ornacle Tottenham Hotspur are likely going to have another very quiet window. Speaking in a transfer mailbag column in The Athletic (£), David Ornstein says that Tottenham are unlikely to spend anything at all when the window opens up next month, and any hypothetical moves they would make would be the result of having to replace someone who is poached from the club in a too-good-to-refuse offer.

And no, before you ask, that does not include Dele.

“After a summer of reasonably heavy investment, I don’t think Spurs chairman Daniel Levy intends to spend at all this winter. Even if he wanted to, it doesn’t sound like the money is there. The only way that might change is if anybody is sold and needs replacing. Dele Alli doesn’t enter that bracket because the position he usually occupies is surplus to requirements in Jose Mourinho’s system. The 24-year-old is keen to leave permanently but meaningful talks have yet to take place and Levy may favour a loan, given Dele is under contract until 2024. While Paris Saint-Germain retain an interest and vice versa, it’s thought financial fair play issues could scupper their chances.”

— David Ornstein, The Athletic

That’s certainly a glass of cold water on the Marcel Sabitzer rumors, which have been emerging again lately, as well as any hopes for a new defender. Ornstein also says that Mourinho is “satisfied with his existing options” in his squad.

It makes sense. Despite COVID-19 ravaging the financials, Spurs spent moderately big this summer, bringing in Pierre Hojbjerg, Matt Doherty, and Sergio Reguilon, as well as securing both Gareth Bale, and Carlos Vinicius on loan. With almost no money coming in due to matches being played behind closed doors it’s hard to fathom that a businessman like Daniel Levy would approve going further in debt for player signings in a window that usually doesn’t provide much value in the market.

Maaaaaaybe there’s the chance of a loan here or there but Spurs are also at their limit for foreign players, and domestic loans at the Premier League level don’t happen very often. The anecdote about Dele is especially fascinating, especially regarding financial fair play — PSG were interested in signing him last summer, but Levy beat back the interest. Now with Dele on the outs and Mauricio Pochettino coming to Paris, the rumors are rearing up again, even if it’s mostly speculation.

Ornstein goes on to discuss the possibility of selling Davinson Sanchez and reigniting the Milan Skriniar transfer that died last summer, saying at the moment Spurs have no plans to revisit Skriniar’s possible move.

Transfer rumors are fun and we’re certainly going to keep reporting on them — sometimes even people truly in the know like Ornstein are wrong — but this is a pretty strong case that Spurs will be rolling into 2021 with the same squad they had in the back half of 2020.