Tottenham January transfer dossier: Top striker needed to return to the Champions League

After a very slow start to the campaign under the management of Mauricio Pochettino, Tottenham are starting to take shape while the new boss's famous hard training sessions are beginning to show.

Spurs are indeed now not far away even from the top four, meaning that the Champions League target that looked like a utopian dream just some weeks ago is now a possibility. Nevertheless, Arsenal still look the favourite to book a place in the European championship unless Spurs make some sensational January moves.

What they need

Spurs signed Ben Davis, Benjamin Stambouli, Michael Vorm, Eric Dyer and Federico Fazio but failed to bolster the attack with a marquee signing to finally cope with Gareth Bale's departure.

Pochettino has managed to take out the best from Christian Eriksen in the playmaker role but Roberto Soldado and Erik Lamela are yet to prove their lucrative worth. Emmanuel Adebayor is far from his best and Spurs have only scored 29 goals from the first 10 games of the campaign.

This way, signing a top forward to add goals to the attack should be the main target.

Who could join

Spurs have already confirmed that USA international right-back DeAndre Yedlin has joined the club after they signed the 21-year-old in August, leaving him on loan at Seattle Sounders until now.

Meanwhile, Pochettino is said to be keen on bringing his 'own' players to complete the Spurs resurrection with Southampton duo Morgan Schneiderlin and Jay Rodriguez among the candidates.

Furthermore, the North London team have also been linked with West Bromwich Saido Berahino and Swansea in-form striker Wilfried Bony whose arrival looks unlikely after the Ivory Coast striker recently signed a new deal at the Wales side.

Who could leave

Midfielders Mousa Dembele and Paulinho may force their move away from White Hart Lane after falling out of favour of Pochettino´s plans ahead of Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb.

Furthermore, defender Kyle Naughton is also tipped to leave the club following the arrival of DeAndre Yedlin.

Meanwhile, Roberto Soldado continues to be linked with a return to La Liga, and should a striker arrive at White Hart Lane, Pochettino may accept to part ways with him or Adebayor. Aaron Lennon's future is also uncertain.

What the manager has said

"We have a lot of chats and have I told him all my thoughts," Pochettino said of transfer window discussions with Levy.

"We have common sense, when the window opens in January we will start to decide but so far we are very happy with our squad.

"I am happy, it's not about if you sign or not. I'm happy here and I'm happy with our squad. I never put pressure (on the chairman).

"We need to understand in football, when you are a head coach you need to try to explain to the chairman, sporting director, my thoughts and advice and then decide the best for the team."