Tottenham’s January 2013 Transfer Window Round-up

[Photo: Jav The_DoC_66]The January Transfer Window is over for another year. A month of rumour, counter-rumour and speculation which has once again had Tottenham linked with players from all parts of the globe. In the end it was ‘Much ado about nothing’.

Tottenham’s needs at the beginning of January were a creative midfield player and a striker. Lewis Holtby could be said to fulfill the midfield role, a cheaper version to last summer’s target and Andre Villas-Boas’ reported preferred option, Joao Moutinho. The month, however, provided its own setback with the injury to Sandro weakening the central defensive midfield partnership. The striker problem remains unresolved with Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor on his return from the Africa Cup of Nations, the only experienced options.

Daniel Levy has maintained his January transfer policy of recent years by refusing to speculate in an attempt to strength the team for a final assault on the Champions League places. This will leave the squad very stretched if any further injuries occur.

The Record of Tottenham’s January transfer dealings:

In:

Ezekiel Fryers was signed from Standard Liege in early January. Having been on trial with Spurs during the summer, his contract with Manchester United having expired, Fryers went to Belgium as the two clubs couldn’t agree in a fee. A change of manager in Liege saw Fryers left out of the team and he decided to return to England. Tottenham completed the deal for the promising left back who could provide competition for Benoit Assou-Ekotto. He has played for the Spurs Under-21 team.

Lewis Holtby, initially signed a pre-contract agreement to sign from FC Schalke 04 in the summer. Sandro’s injury caused a rethink, so negotiations took place and the deal was made permanent for a fee of £1.25 million. He made his debut against Norwich City, coming on for the last twenty minutes.

Out: (on loan)

Iago Falque has gone to Spain until the end of the season to play for Almeria.

Souleymane Coulibaly has joined Serie B side US Grosseto for the remainder of the season.

Heurelho Gomes has joined Hoffenheim until the end of the season. Gomes has been frozen out at White Hart Lane over the past eighteen months, dropping to fourth choice behind Hugo Lloris, Brad Friedel and Carlo Cudicini. Gomes made 115 League and Cup appearances for Tottenham but only four since losing his place in May, 2011.

Adam Smith, the England Under-21 right back has had his loan extended at Millwall to the end of the season.

Alex Pritchard has joined Peterborough United until the summer.

Ryan Mason who played in the Capital One Cup tie at Carlisle and made two brief appearances as a substitute in Europa League matches has gone out on loan to French Ligue One club FC Lorient until the end of the season. Mason made his debut in the UEFA Cup in 2008 and has been out on loan on a number of occasions. He impressed at Yeovil Town and Doncaster Rovers but has been very unfortunate with injuries. Hopefully, this time he will avoid injury and get the opportunity to gain some league experience in France.

Andros Townsend has moved to Loftus Road on loan for the remainder of the season.

Simon Dawkins, a 25 year old midfielder/striker, who has been on loan with San Jose Earthquakes since March, 2011 has joined Aston Villa until the end of the season. Dawkins was with the Tottenham Academy but was released in 2009. After injury he returned to Spurs on a non-contract basis to train but after a trial was given a contract in March 2011. He immediately went to America on loan where he has impressed, making over 50 appearances in the MLS and scoring 14 goals.

Tomislav Gomelt, a young midfielder, has joined La Liga side Espanyol on loan for the rest of the season.

Danny Rose remains with Sunderland until the end of the season but Harry Kane has been recalled from Norwich City.

Out: (Sold)

Carlo Cudicini has joined LA Galaxy after four years with Tottenham. Signed from Chelsea in January, 2009 as cover for Gomes, he has been a patient understudy, making only 19 League appearances. He stepped in regularly for the Cup and Europa League matches.

Jermaine Jenas is one of a number of players who have been on the fringes at Tottenham for some time. He has joined Queen’s Park Rangers, having signed an 18-month contract at Loftus Road. He joined Spurs from Newcastle in August, 2005, making over 200 appearances in all competitions and was in the 2008 Carling Cup winning team. During the past two seasons, he has been troubled with injuries and been out on loan with Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.

Speaking to BBC, Jenas said,

"“The fact that Harry Redknapp was here was a big factor. There’s a big challenge ahead of us in staying in league and I want to be part of it.”"

HotspurHQ got it right – You Heard it Here First!

In Alan’s blog of 24th November on HotspurHQ, he gave his thoughts on David Beckham leaving LA Galaxy and predicted,

"“I think that could be in Paris despite all the talk of Australia.”"

Yesterday afternoon, on the final day of the transfer window, the highlight of SkySports Transfer Deadline Day News programme was a press conference in Paris where it was revealed that David Beckham had signed a 5-month contract with Paris St. Germain and had donated his salary to a Paris children’s charity.

Alan and HotspurHQ were first with the news.

Over To You!

Can Tottenham finish the season in a Champions League place having failed to sign a striker?