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Rob Guest

What RB Leipzig's January transfer business means for Tottenham in the Champions League

The fixtures are going to come thick and fast for Jose Mourinho and Tottenham once the winter break comes to an end.

Signing off with a 3-2 win over Southampton in their FA Cup fourth round replay on Wednesday evening, the Lilywhites will next be in action on Sunday, February 16 when they travel to Aston Villa in the Premier League.

Having had to contend with games every few days prior to Christmas, it is again going to be the same for the team with the Champions League making a return.

Spurs once again face German opposition in the Round of 16 as Bundesliga high-flyers RB Leipzig make the trip to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first leg.

Jose Mourinho full press conference after Southampton win

Julian Nagelsmann's side have been in fantastic form so far this season and they currently sit one point off leaders Bayern Munich after 20 games.

Containing the likes of Dayot Upamecano, Emil Forsberg and Timo Werner in their side, it is going to be an extremely tricky game for Spurs and they will have to be at their very best if they are to advance to the final eight of the competition.

It was a very busy month in the transfer market in north London and it was exactly the same in Leipzig.

Dani Olmo, who was previously linked with a move to Spurs, was the main arrival at the Red Bull Arena having joined in a €20 million from Dinamo Zagreb.

Man City left-back Angelino was also another signing at Leipzig as he joined the club on loan until the end of the season after struggling to make an impact at the Etihad Stadium.

Champions League rules allow clubs to make a maximum of three changes to their squad ahead of the knockout phase and both are included by the German team.

Dani Olmo of Dinamo Zagreb celebrates a goal during the UEFA Champions League group C match between Dinamo Zagreb and Manchester City (Luka Stanzl/Pixsell/MB Media/Getty Images)

While the addition of the full-back doesn't really pose a threat to Spurs, Mourinho and his side will definitely need to keep a close eye on Olmo when they meet later this month.

Capable of playing as an attacking midfielder and on either wing, the Spaniard is rated extremely highly in the game and Leipzig certainly pulled off a transfer coup given all the clubs believed to be interested in signing him.

Olmo has already made an instant impression in Europe's elite competition this season as he played for his former club against Man City, Shakhtar Dontesk and Atalanta in the group stage.

Registering two goals and an assist in their group games, he hit the headlines in December after scoring a sensational volley against City.

Speaking after the game, Pep Guardiola hailed the 21-year-old as "incredible" and tipped him for a bright future in the game.

"He's a top player - he has a bright future, of course," said the Spaniard. "His performance today shows it.

"About the transfer and the money he deserves, that is not the point. The point is he is an incredible player and I am pretty sure he is able to play in the strong leagues in Europe.

"Hopefully if Dinamo wants and he wants, it can happen."

Olmo has been eased in at his new club so far with two appearances off the bench and he did manage to find the net on Tuesday evening as he scored in their 3-1 German Cup defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Die Roten Bullen have two games before their trip to the capital and they will be hoping the new signing is fully up to speed when the sides meet in N17.

He could potentially prove to be the difference over the two legs and Spurs will have to keep him very quiet indeed if they want to progress once again.

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