Tottenham and Ange Postecoglou need a busy January transfer window to reignite the season (Image: GETTY)

With the crunch middle section of the football season fast approaching, Tottenham and manager Ange Postecoglou know some pivotal decisions have to be made to keep lofty ambitions alive.

Spurs enter the new year sitting fifth in the Premier League table, just six points adrift of leaders Liverpool.

With 20 matches played, Spurs have lost one one match more than bitter rivals Arsenal, and are breathing down the neck of their north London neighbours as 2024 locks into gear.

Tottenham, with a new manager and a fresh style of play, know that the year ahead is very much one brimming with opportunity. Express Sport takes a look at how Postecoglou can conduct the perfect January window.

Chelsea low-ball

Much has been made of Spurs' reported efforts to prise Conor Gallagher away from bitter rivals Chelsea, with Postecoglou keen to enhance his midfield department.

The England international is very much an operator in the mould of footballers Postecoglou enjoys working with, given his verstatility and high levels of work-rate across the field.

It is for this reason that Gallagher also found himself on the consideration list of Liverpool during the summer window, before the Anfield outfit opted to trigger the release clause of Hungarian Dominik Szoboszali from RB Leipzig.

Express Sport understands Spurs are making concerted efforts to bring Gallagher on board, with north London chiefs acutely away that Chelsea need to continue selling senior stars in order to adhere to FFP guidelines and also be able to make further signings of their own.

Chelsea are believed to be holding firm on a £50m valuation for the 23-year-old, who has vast potential after already proving himself Premier League material.

Spurs have a major advantage in that they are one of the few teams involved in the transfer discussion at present, although Saudi Arabian-backed Newcastle have also been linked.

Should Spurs stand as the only team to officially table a bid, there will be an increased liklihood that chairman Daniel Levy could fire off a low-ball offer and secure the signing under Chelsea's high asking price.

Fans' favourite Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg could also play a pivotal role in whether Spurs sign a new midfielder or not, given question marks still surround his future after a potential summer exit never came to fruition in August, despite being expected.

Should Hjojberg move on, Spurs would have both additional funds and a ready-made slot in the midfield to fill.

£25m defender swoop

Spurs are leading the discussions for break-through Genoa star Radu Dragusin, who has been in blistering form in the heart of defence.

Postecoglou badly needs reinforcements across the back line, ever since losing summer signing Micky van de Ven to injury.

Spurs had originally targeted Jean-Clair Todibo of Nice, yet it quickly transpired that a potential deal would not be a quick one to make. Todibo is admired by both Chelsea and Manchester United, and finds himself in a complex situation whereby Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the owner of his current club Nice, is in the process of finalising his buy-out at United and will soon be making transfer decisions.

Spurs quickly turned to Dragusin; the 21-year-old has racked up 13 caps for Romania and according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, wasted no time in agreeing personal terms with Tottenham.

It was reported in early January that Dragusin had 'accepted all details of Tottenham contract proposal as personal terms have been agreed.'

Genoa’s asking price is believed to be £25m (€30m), with Tottenham understood to have already placed a tenative bid just below this valuation.

Juventus wonderkid

Spurs are always looking to the future, especially now that Postecoglou has asked for youth starlets who he can develop into world beaters.

Juve youngster Samuel Iling-Junior has repeatedly cropped up as a name of interest to Spurs, with the Italian giants known to be willing to sell stars if the price is right.

The 20-year-old recently came on for the last quarter of the match as Juve faced Genoa in Serie A - in a match which Spurs scouts conveniently happened to be attending in order to run final checks over on the afforementioned Dragusin.

Expect links with Iling-Junior and Spurs to increase as the January window gets into full flow, as Postecoglou eyes an unpolished jewel which could soon be cut into a diamond.