Tottenham's Defensive Woes

Tottenham is in search of a new centre-back in January as they struggle with a defensive crisis. The team faced setbacks with suspensions and injuries during their recent clash with Chelsea.

Make-shift Backline

Manager Ange Postecoglou had to rely on a make-shift backline comprising of Ben Davies and Eric Dier against Wolves. This situation is likely to continue until Cristian Romero's suspension ends in two games' time.

Shortlist of Centre-Backs

According to reports, Tottenham has compiled a five-man shortlist of centre-backs to target in January. The list includes Premier League players Marc Guehi and Jarrad Branthwaite, as well as Malick Thiaw from AC Milan, Goncalo Inacio from Sporting Lisbon, and Morato from Benfica.

Van de Ven's Injury

Micky van de Ven's injury is expected to keep him out until the new year. The club is considering a new acquisition to partner with Romero in defense.

Possible Departure of Dier

There is a possibility of Eric Dier leaving the club, as he is out of contract at the end of the season. Sporting Lisbon has reportedly shown interest in signing him. This potential departure could further motivate Tottenham to secure two new defenders in January.

Competition for Places

If Tottenham manages to bring in two new centre-backs, they could potentially field players like Guehi and Branthwaite together, creating healthy competition for places in the team's defense.

Boost in Midfield

Rodrigo Bentancur's return to fitness will add class to Tottenham's midfield. This will be particularly helpful during James Maddison's injury lay-off.

Long-Term Absentees

While Richarlison is expected to return to fitness soon after undergoing surgery, Ivan Perisic, Manor Solomon, and Ryan Sessegnon remain long-term absentees from the squad.