Ange Postecoglou is "hopeful" that Tottenham will sign a new centre-half early in January after Cristian Romero was ruled out for up to five weeks.
Romero will be sidelined until near the end of next month with a hamstring strain suffered in Saturday's win over Everton, although Postecoglou expects the Argentine's defensive partner Micky van de Ven to be available again from the middle of January.
Spurs have made a new centre-half the priority in the mid-season transfer window and even before the loss of Romero Postecoglou had called for the club to do their business early in the month.
Nice and France defender Jean-Clair Todibo is a leading target but is wanted by a host of other European clubs, while Spurs are also considering a move for Genoa's Radu Dragusin.
Asked if there was a realistic possibility of signing a defender early next month, Postecoglou said: "I don't know because there's just so many moving parts.
"Obviously if we can do business early it's great for us. Not just because of losing Romero but there's a whole month there - why waste it?
"If you can bring them in early, even if they don't play you can bed them into training and our style of football because it's not like we're going to sign somebody and they'll hit the ground running. Maybe they could.
"Whereas if you leave it towards the end of January, it's potentially not until mid to end of February when they get up to speed, depending where they're coming from, the league they're coming from.
"So yes, I'd love to do something early in the window but even me saying that puts a challenge on us, because other clubs know we want to do something early.
"You've got to play the game, we'll see what happens but I'm hopeful it will be much earlier than the end of the window before we bring someone in."
Emerson Royal, who deputised at left-back for the suspended Destiny Udogie against Everton, is expected to partner Ben Davies in the middle for Thursday's visit to Brighton and potentially beyond, although Eric Dier and youngster Ashley Phillips are also options.
Asked if Phillips, 18, who joined Spurs from Blackburn in the summer, was ready to start a Premier League game, Postecoglou said: "He's training now, he's ready, he's available. He's there, mate, so if the opportunity comes we'll give it to him."
Romero is the latest player to be sidelined as part of a dire run of injuries and suspensions for Postecoglou, who will also be without Van de Ven, James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur, Manor Solomon, Ivan Perisic, Ryan Sessegnon and the banned Yves Bissouma at the Amex Stadium.
The Australian has been pleased with the response of his squad and coaching staff to the absences and says it is positive that Spurs have rediscovered some form - with three straight wins - without so many leading players.
"It is what it is. Someone was saying [to me] before, 'When all these players come back...', and I was saying, 'It never works that way'," he said.
"I'm not the only one, you can see other clubs going through it as well. We've been going through it for quite a while to be fair but I really like the attitude everyone's taking internally -- the coaches and players.
"We've still been disappointed with our losses, still been disappointed if we're not playing our football.
"That's the most important thing. I'm sure there will come a point when we will be much healthier in terms of our playing stocks but I like the fact we're winning games and playing decent football without some of those players.
"For them it's good to see the team winning and hopefully motivated them to come back but also makes them realise it's something I want to be a part of. So it is what it is, we've just got to get on with it. It's another challenge for us this week with two games in a short space of time and a smallish squad available but we'll tackle it like we've tackled everything else.”
