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Tottenham line up an ambitious January move the club hierarchy are ‘crazy’ about

Originally posted on To The Lane And Back
By Aaryan Choksi | Last updated Dec 17, 2025 6:11 PM ET

Tottenham’s defensive instability has played a major role in the club’s Premier League struggles.

Much was made of Tottenham’s attacking struggles under Thomas Frank at the start of the season. Supporters noted that while the Lilywhites were defensively solid, they often found it difficult to create chances and score at the other end of the pitch. Credit must be given to the Danish tactician, however, as he addressed that issue quickly, with the North Londoners now scoring with far greater ease and efficiency.

That improvement in attack has come at a cost. In the process, Spurs have become increasingly vulnerable at the back, with opponents exploiting large gaps in the defence and creating chances with relative ease. When Thomas Frank’s side lose matches, they often do so by heavy margins, which has heightened concerns among supporters who are watching their team concede goals far too freely in the Premier League.

Spurs kept four clean sheets in their opening five matches in all competitions this season. Since then, however, the Lilywhites have managed just six more in their next 19 games. This highlights the need for defensive reinforcements in the winter window to strengthen the back line and provide cover for Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.

Tottenham keen on landing Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni in January

Tottenham are keen to add more steel at the back in the upcoming transfer window. The Lilywhites are targeting a new centre-back who can push Romero and Van de Ven for a place in the starting eleven. A rather ambitious move, the decision reflects a growing realisation that the club must tighten up defensively and restore stability to their game.

According to FCInterNews (via Sport Witness), Spurs are interested in signing Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni in the next transfer window. The Lilywhites reportedly view him as a long-term solution to their defensive issues, with Fabio Paratici said to be extremely keen and crazy on the idea of bringing the Italian international to North London midway through the season.

However, the same report claims that Bastoni has no intention of leaving the San Siro and feels deeply attached to Inter. There is also the possibility of contract renewal talks with the Serie A giants in the coming months. The 26-year-old is keen to remain with Inter long term and build a legacy at the club, effectively ruling out a January move.

Securing a player of Bastoni’s calibre in January was always likely to be a challenging task. Few clubs are willing to part with their best players midway through a season. As a result, Spurs may need to be pragmatic and target defenders who could be available for a premium fee but are capable of making an immediate impact under Thomas Frank in the second half of the campaign.

That said, signing a new defender may not be the Lilywhites’ top priority at this stage. With Romero, Van de Ven, and Kevin Danso already at the club, Spurs have enough depth to see them through the remainder of the season. Instead, the focus should perhaps be on strengthening the attack in January, allowing the club to close the gap on their rivals and build on last season’s Europa League success.

This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.

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