Spurs Transfers: 5 January Replacements For Jermaine Defoe
2. Christian Benteke
Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke has been in a terrific run of form since moving to England from Genk at the start of last season, scoring 19 Premier League goals in his debut campaign. The 22-year-old then put his army of suitors on red alert this summer by handing in a transfer request at Villa Park - with Tottenham one of the sides interested at the time - before the forward retracted his request and penned a new deal for Paul Lambert's side. Nevertheless, Spurs may try to test Villa's resolve with a serious cash offer in January, and the potential to play for a club who are already through to the latter stages of the Europa League may appeal to Benteke as he attempts to force his way into Belgium's World Cup squad in 2014. Benteke is contracted to Villa until 2017 and it may therefore take a sizable cash bid from Tottenham to persuade the midlands side into selling.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.