Lukaku & 10 players who could join Tottenham in January

James Shearman

• 4 Jan 2022 13:14 GMT
• 5 min read

While Tottenham completed a decent amount of transfer business last summer, there is still an awful lot to be done in January.

Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked on November 1 after a poor start to the season, with ex-Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte given the job.

And the Italian, who has previously won the Premier League with Chelsea, soon demanded that the club improve the squad if they are to challenge for trophies.

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As such, chairman Daniel Levy is expected to hand Conte a serious budget to bring in the players he believes to achieve that objective.

Director of football Fabio Paratici, formerly of Juventus, will also have a say on transfer dealings, meaning there is likely to be a number of Serie A targets.

Dusan Vlahovic (Fiorentina)

One of Tottenham's dream signings in the upcoming transfer window would be Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic.

While the likes of Erling Haaland are stealing most of the headlines as Europe's hottest young striker property, the 21-year-old has been impressively going about his business in Italy.

He has scored 16 goals in Serie A this season already, more than anyone else.

Numerous big clubs want Vlahovic though, and Spurs will need to present a massive offer to the player and his agent to make a deal happen.

Luis Diaz (Porto)

The Colombian has been in outrageous form for Porto, with 12 goals through the first 15 games of the league season in Portugal to go with two goals in six games in the Champions League.

He has also become a permanent fixture in the Colombia national team throughout World Cup qualification.

With incredible pace and dazzling skill, at the perfect age of 24, Diaz could be a major coup for Tottenham.

Dejan Kulusevski (Juventus)

The Sweden international is yet to find his feet in Turin since signing from Atalanta on the back of two successful loan spells at Parma.

Juventus are willing to sell and the winger might feel as though a change of scenery would be beneficial.

Spurs are in need of attacking talent, with an over-reliance on Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son, making this potential move an almost perfect fit.

Pau Torres (Villarreal)

Pau Torres has long been a target of several European clubs, including Real Madrid and Manchester United.

However, a deal for the Spaniard failed to materialise last summer as he insisted he wanted to feature for his hometown club in the Champions League.

Now, Spurs will be looking to take advantage of other top clubs turning their attentions away from the defender.

Stefan de Vrij (Inter)

Stefan de Vrij played 30 times for Conte last season as Inter lifted the Serie A title.

He has had a superb career in Italy, starring for Lazio prior to four seasons at San Siro, and at 29 it is the right time to seek a new challenge.

A deal in January seems unlikely but, since the Dutchman's contract ends in 2023, Spurs could be prepared to offer more now than they would next summer.

Weston McKennie (Juventus)

Juventus have a surplus of midfielders and will almost certainly let one of them go in the January window.

And Paratici could play a leading role in getting this deal over the line.

The Italian is an admirer of the American, who hasn't featured for Juventus since November.

Denis Zakaria (Borussia Monchengladbach)

Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria is out of contract in the summer and so would be available at a knockdown price for any suitor.

The Switzerland international is an all-rounder in midfield, contributing both in attack and defence.

His best attribute is probably his ability to run through the middle to open up the game, though he also has an eye for a pass and can position himself well.

There are plenty of other clubs hoping to take advantage of his contract situation, though, with Juventus considered the favourites.

Franck Kessie (AC Milan)

An excellent player whose contract also runs out at the end of the season, Franck Kessie could be the man to sort out Spurs' midfield woes.

Milan will be desperately disappointed to lose one of their stars, especially midway through a campaign, but it would be the correct decision from a financial point of view to cash in given he almost certainly won't sign a new deal.

Kessie would provide an engine in the centre of the pitch completely opposite to the often-criticised Tanguy Ndombele.

Victor Moses (Spartak Moscow)

A part of Antonio Conte's Premier League-winning Chelsea side in the 2016/17 campaign, Moses could make a sensational return to English football.

The former winger turned wing-back knows exactly how to thrive in the Italian's 3-4-3 system.

He has been enjoying life at Spartak Moscow, though, but surely he would find it too difficult to turn Conte down.

Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea)

Romelu Lukaku has suddenly emerged as a sensational possible transfer target for Tottenham.

This is all following the explosive interview he gave where he declared he is unhappy at Chelsea and criticised manager Thomas Tuchel.

Lukaku enjoyed a well-publicised bromance with Conte during two successful years at Inter, and everyone knows that the Italian sees the Belgian as his ideal player.

It remains to be seen whether Chelsea would sell Lukaku to a rival, but there is no doubt that Conte would love to have him in north London.