Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly trying to outpace Barcelona in the race to sign a new target for manager Ange Postecoglou during the January transfer window, according to fresh reports from Spain.
Tottenham Draw Against Wolves
Spurs endured a frustrating Premier League outing on Sunday, drawing 2-2 at home against Wolves.
Despite goals from Rodrigo Bentancur and Brennan Johnson, a late equalizer by Jorgen Strand Larsen meant Tottenham secured just one point from their last three matches.
This result places Spurs in the bottom half of the table at the halfway point of the season, a far cry from the European football aspirations the club harbored earlier in the campaign.
Opportunity in the January Transfer Window
Fortunately, the upcoming January transfer window provides Tottenham with a chance to reinforce their squad for a stronger second half of the season.
Postecoglou has been vocal about his desire to strengthen the team, emphasizing the need to address key areas.
Ahead of their defeat to Nottingham Forest, the Australian coach said, “Like I said a while ago, we’ve been planning.
A lot of it was going to be around where we’re at around this time. It’s fair to say we’re still a little bit short in a couple of areas, and we need to reinforce.”
Among Tottenham’s priorities are a defender and a forward, with Postecoglou keen to make impactful additions in January.
Spurs Eye Andrei Ratiu
Recent reports from Spain suggest that Tottenham have entered the competition to sign Rayo Vallecano defender Andrei Ratiu.
The Romanian international is also attracting interest from Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, and AS Roma.
Despite being under contract with Rayo Vallecano until 2028, Ratiu is reportedly “very likely to leave” in January due to his impressive performances this season.
His contract includes a €25 million (£20.7 million) release clause, which could be activated this winter.
Ratiu, an international teammate of current Spurs defender Radu Dragusin, has gained recognition for his consistent displays.
Barcelona is thought to have an advantage in the race for his signature, thanks to strong agent connections.
However, financial struggles have made it difficult for the Catalan club to sign new players, as they are already unable to register summer signing Dani Olmo for the second half of the season.
Tottenham’s Current Position
While Ratiu is a promising option, a move to Tottenham appears unlikely unless there is a departure from the club in January.
The Romanian defender has primarily featured as a right-back in his 16 appearances this season, a position where Spurs already have depth with Pedro Porro, Djed Spence, and Archie Gray, who previously played fullback at Leeds.
Given Tottenham’s current challenges, a center-back is expected to take priority for Postecoglou’s January transfer plans.
The need to solidify the defensive line outweighs the addition of another right-back, making Ratiu’s arrival in North London less likely.
Although the January window provides an opportunity for Tottenham to address their squad issues, the addition of Ratiu may not align with their immediate priorities.
Instead, the club is expected to focus on areas that can directly impact their performance and help steer their season back on track.
