Tottenham are finally set to land a long-term target in Conor Gallagher, but many are rightfully questioning whether the Englishman's addition is a necessity this month.
Spurs are seemingly in a state of flux. The Thomas Frank era has so far been nothing short of miserable, with the once universally liked Dane doing plenty to alienate a fanbase that's swiftly lost patience.
A cowardly brand of football is impossible to get behind, and while the squad he's working with is far from complete, Frank, who maximised the talent at his disposal in west London, is failing to platform and profile key members of his squad correctly, contributing to an underwhelming collective.
The January transfer window has arrived at a timely moment, but many will wonder which manager the recruitment team should be serving. With Frank surely on the brink, should the higher-ups be considering signings for his potential successor?
However, no matter who's in charge, the acquisition of what your old man might call a "proper passer" is of paramount importance this month. Gallagher, a fine player who was excellent during his final season at Chelsea, is another stellar athlete with shortcomings as a metronome. Thus, Spurs' midfield shopping cannot end with the Atléti man. He's not the Rodrigo Bentancur replacement some are labelling him to be.
They need one more.
Tottenham should've prioritised Curtis Jones over Conor Gallagher
There have been rumours on social media regarding potential pursuits of Bayer Leverkusen's Aleix García and Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney post-Gallagher, and either of those two would undoubtedly be welcomed by the fanbase. They can pass the football.
However, another name was also thrust into the online ether on Tuesday: Curtis Jones. Tottenham insider Paul O'Keefe understands the Liverpool man is someone the club "had" on their list, suggesting that the signing of Gallagher has ruled out a potential pursuit.
That, in short, makes me sad. Jones could've been a lifesaver. Criminally underused by Arne Slot at times this season, the England international is a press-resistant operator who profiles as the cultured passer this Spurs side desperately needs.
Compared to midfielders in Europe's top five leagues over the past year, Jones sits in the 98th percentile with a 92.3% pass completion and 94th percentile with 8.27 progressive passes per 90 minutes. Gallagher, meanwhile, sits in the 80th and 31st percentiles for the respective metrics.
We're not really solving many issues by signing Gallagher, even if he's a player capable of improving Frank's side, and I don't really understand why his arrival, given their differing profiles, has tamed our interest in Jones, who has less than 18 months on his Liverpool contract.
He may be one we look at in the summer, but Spurs need their passer yesterday.