In the quest to reignite their title ambitions, the opening nine games of the season could barely have gone much better for Tottenham Hotspur.
After recovering from an opening-day defeat by Everton, Jose Mourinho’s side have won six of their last eight, dropping points in the draws with Newcastle United and West Ham United.
That form has been enough to see Spurs move to the top of the table for the first time since 2014, ahead of champions Liverpool on goal difference.
Tottenham’s summer signings have played a major role in their success. Matt Doherty and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg have settled in impressively while Gareth Bale came off the bench to score the winner against Brighton & Hove Albion.
However, given the strength of Liverpool and Chelsea, Spurs may look to make further improvements to their squad in January.
While the winter window often proves tricky with regards to landing top targets, Spurs may be alerted to a potential exodus at Napoli.
According to Corriere dello Sport , Napoli boss Gennaro Gattuso’s relationship with his players has deteriorated following a confrontation after their defeat by AC Milan over the weekend.
Should some of the Serie A club’s players choose to depart, Tottenham may be one of the clubs to profit. With that in mind, here are three players that would boost Spurs’ chances of landing the Premier League title.
Kalidou Koulibaly
Koulibaly has long been Napoli’s prized asset, the towering Senegalese centre-back often being linked with Manchester City and Manchester United.
However, according to Gianluca Di Marzio, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has a good relationship with the defender’s agents.
"Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly could be one of their most important targets,” Di Marzio said during a Sky Sports Twitter Q&A in April.
“There is a very good feeling between his agents and the Tottenham chairman."
Of course, Spurs proceeded to sign Joe Rodon from Swansea City, but whereas the Welshman is one for the future, there is a feeling that if Tottenham are to sustain their title bid, a proven defender is required.
Koulibaly, who is under contract at Napoli until 2023, would likely shatter Tottenham’s transfer record, but having been one of Italian football’s finest centre-backs over the last five years, the 29-year-old would instantly elevate the Spurs defence.
Kevin Malcuit
Doherty’s arrival has had a significant impact on Serge Aurier. Mourinho’s first-choice right-back last season, the Ivorian has managed only three starts in the league season after failing to secure a move to AC Milan over the summer.
With Doherty already established under Mourinho, Aurier may push for a January exit, which would leave Tottenham short of right-sided defenders, which is where Malcuit would come in.
According to Area Napoli , West Ham rejected the chance to sign the Frenchman in September with Malcuit having fallen behind Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Elseid Hysaj in the right-back pecking order.
Seeing that his opportunities have remained limited under Gattuso, it seems probable that Malcuit will actively seek a new challenge once the January window opens.
The 29-year-old would not be expected to become a game-changing addition for Spurs, but were Aurier to depart, Malcuit would be worth exploring as a low-cost replacement.
Arkadiusz Milik
Tottenham chased Milik during the summer window as they stepped up their search for a back-up option to Harry Kane.
Milik ultimately stayed put, but the Poland international looks destined to leave Napoli in January having been omitted from Gattuso’s Serie A and Europa League squads.
The Sun claim that former Napoli boss Carlo Ancelotti is keen to bring Milik to Everton, while Inter Milan have also been linked with the 26-year-old.
Spurs’ search for striking reinforcements culminated in snapping up Carlo Vinicius on a season-long loan from Benfica, although the Brazilian’s slow start to life in north London suggests that Kane could still use more help
Milik is a proven goalscorer, with 34 goals across the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons, and were Spurs to sign him in January, he would be afforded time to settle with Vinicius and Kane also available to Mourinho.
A powerful, mobile poacher who arguably still has his best years ahead of him, Milik could give Tottenham the added firepower they may need to dethrone Liverpool and clinch their first title in 60 years.
