Ange Postecoglou will need new recruits to join the Tottenham cause regardless of how many of his squad finally start returning to the fold.

The Australian has faced another season with key players missing for long periods and at times the absence list has climbed up into double figures for some matches. When asked by football.london about various parts of his squad the Spurs head coach has admitted that he needs new arrivals in January if his squad numbers do not rise significantly and quickly.

As always Tottenham must continue to keep within their squad limits and the rules for homegrown and foreign players, with the Europa League lacking in spaces for new recruits unless others drop out, but Postecoglou will need to continue his squad revamp in this coming January window with at least one or two arrivals to prevent another period of struggle and overused players.

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We've taken a look at each department of Spurs' squad to see what the head coach needs, starting with the men at the back wearing the gloves.

Goalkeeper

There have been goalkeeping problems for Postecoglou this season with Guglielmo Vicario suffering that fractured foot at the Etihad Stadium and being ruled out for three months.

Fraser Forster had stepped up well on the whole until the past couple of matches and the club will have to make a decision on what comes next for the 36-year-old, with his contract ending this summer. He's certainly playing his way towards a new deal at this point.

Brandon Austin signed a new five-year contract at the end of last season but has not played a minute yet this season, while Alfie Whiteman is heading towards the end of his deal without any sense that he will get competitive game time for the north London club.

Postecoglou will be keen on bringing in a new goalkeeper to challenge Vicario for the long term but with the Italian due back within the opening months of 2025, there's currently less rush to sort something now. If Tottenham do make a move in this department in January it may be to secure a goalkeeper to arrive in time for next season.

The Spurs boss said last week: "I think I left it [the door to signing a new goalkeeper] open in that if we had another injury to a goalkeeper, then we would definitely have to sign someone.

"I think Fraser has done really well for us coming in. It's not easy. Any time a number two goalkeeper comes in, it's always, especially for an extended period of time it's not the easiest position to come into, but I think he’s handled it really well, as I expected him to."

Full-back

Spurs need a new left-back rather than trying to force makeshift pieces into the defensive puzzle. Destiny Udogie has had to play more minutes than any other outfield player so far this season simply because there's been nobody to come in and replace him most of the time.

Postecoglou does not see Ben Davies as a left-back any more and has needed him frequently a centre-back, and the decision not to register Djed Spence for the Europa League has made it tough to rest Udogie.

Archie Gray has been needed on both flanks as a full-back as well at centre-back in the past month, but Postecoglou needs a natural left-back going forward for the long-term to compete with Udogie. Potentially a Micky van de Ven type, who can play as a full-back or centre-back would kill two birds with one stone.

Central defence

When everyone is fit, and that's a big if, Postecoglou has four options at his disposal in the form of Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies. However, injuries have played havoc with all bar Dragusin so far and Postecoglou will have to decide whether to strengthen in January despite those players being set to return.

When football.london put it to Postecoglou toward the end of the last summer window that he had swapped Eric Dier for Radu Dragusin and last season admitted he wanted another centre-back, so surely needed another natural man in the middle of the back four, the Australian played down the idea.

"No, and I don't think we're in the same position. I think Radu is a different proposition for us, and certainly with Archie coming into the group and Djed probably not being in the plans initially, but now in I think we're in a much different position than we were last year," he said. "We've got Ben Davies as well, obviously, who can play at centre back or at left back. But again, I mean, that's the discipline of it. Yeah, we can go out and sign another centre back, but if the right player's not there, I'm not going to do it. It's as simple as that. I'm not, I never have, I never will.

"For me, it's about getting the right people in and there wasn't an opportunity for us to bring in someone who I thought was going to add to our group, so we don't do it. We've got Ashley Phillips, we've got young Luka Vuskovic available next year. Two young centre-backs. I don't want to block their pathway by doing something now. It might look from the outside, like we've got another player, but if that player is not going to be suitable to what we're doing and not going fit in, why would I bring them in and potentially block the path for somebody else."

There will be the temptation to wait and look first at Vuskovic when he arrives as an 18-year-old in the summer. There is the chance to recall Phillips in January from his loan at Stoke but if Postecoglou has all four centre-backs available then that would seem a waste of his development at a club where he is playing regularly. It's also worth pointing out that despite what he said, Postecoglou seems yet to be truly convinced by the player who is yet to play for Spurs competitively.

It's a big all to not bring in another defensive body though after everything that's happened so far this season and, as stated above, someone who can cover both centre-back and left-back could be very helpful. Ben Godfrey is someone who fits that bill and has been linked with Spurs, although football.london understands the Atalanta defender is not a current target for the club.

Midfield

Postecoglou will no doubt have his eye on further creative midfielders, but that seems more of a summer move unless someone absolutely perfect is available in January or a versatile player who plays there as well as in other roles.

Pape Matar Sarr, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall cover the number eight options with Bergvall showing he can also step into the six role, along with Gray.

In that six role, Rodrigo Bentancur is now back from his ban, as a main option with Yves Bissouma, while Spurs have also secured an option on Real Betis' Johnny Cardoso for the summer window to come.

Postecoglou wouldn't turn down a new attacking central midfielder if one arrived in January but you'd think the priority lie behind and up front.

Attack

Spurs have scored a lot of goals this season but Postecoglou suggested to football.london that with Richarlison's patchy availability the attack is an area he is considering.

"With Richarlison it has been frustrating because I see the potential in him and to be fair when he's been fit he's always made an impact. That's what you kind of hold on to, but there's no doubt we need some bolstering in that front third over the next couple of transfer windows," said the Australian.

"Dom [Solanke] coming in has been great, but again we can't overload him either, because ultimately, even if he stays fit and nothing happens, performance will invariably drop if his energy levels drop. So it's something we're aware of and need to plan for."

Wilson Odobert remains out with his hamstring injury and with Kulusevski now a deeper midfielder, it's putting a lot of pressure on Son Heung-min and top scorer Brennan Johnson to play most games as the wingers and Solanke as the striker.

Timo Werner has had moments but mostly has struggled to impress and drew criticism from Postecoglou for what he called an "unacceptable" performance at Rangers. Whether he can return to RB Leipzig on loan would likely required the Bundesliga club to want him back rather than Spurs paying his wages which seems unlikely.

Mikey Moore, at just 17-years-old, will need to be developed carefully rather than overused, especially after struggling with the after effects of a nasty virus in recent months.

Yang Min-hyeok has been settling in ahead of his January move and Spurs are expected to be cautious about the 18-year-old South Korean winger as he adjusts to life in a very different country and league.

Will Lankshear, who netted his first goal for Spurs before getting sent off at Galatasaray, will continue to learn the senior game this season and be given opportunities here and there, and potentially a loan if another attacker comes in.

Postecoglou's system relies on various changes around the hour mark, particularly in attack, to keep the tempo high and he needs the options to do that without dropping the quality otherwise he won't do it.

Again, with any new additions decisions will have to be made over the full Europa League squad and who comes out if a new signing arrives.

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