Dejan Kulusevski's absence from the team in October highlighted that Tottenham must find an alternative option for the Swede in the upcoming transfer windows. Spurs dearly lacked his creativity in the ten games he missed and looked a different side in the final third as a result.
Another creative option is a must for Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici as the Lilywhites cannot find themselves in the same position once again. As Paratici does like to strike deals for free agents, he could look to do likewise by opening talks with prospective new signings from other countries at the turn of the year.
So are there any players available on free transfers in the summer as things stand who the managing director of football should be looking at? Here we take a look at four players playing abroad who would bolster Spurs' attacking options and give Tottenham some more much-needed creativity.
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Marcus Thuram (Borussia Monchengladbach)
A number of clubs will be looking to strike a cut-price deal for France international Thuram come the start of next month. With his Borussia Monchengladbach contract set to expire, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan are just some of the teams mentioned regarding a winter move.
It's no surprise to see why, though, after plundering 13 goals in 17 appearances this campaign and adding a further four assists. Operating as a striker for his club, the Frenchman also has experience of playing from the flanks, and that, as well as his excellent attacking numbers, should be something that whets Tottenham's appetite.
A player who would provide further cover for Harry Kane through the middle, he would also give the likes of Kulusevski, Son Heung-min and Richarlison further competition for a spot in the team as his stats from the wing are rather good after hitting six goals and seven assists from the left in 2020/21. Rated at £26million by Transfermarkt, he would constitute a bargain whether that be on a free transfer or for nothing in the summer.
Daichi Kamada (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Kamada won't be short of offers if his time with Eintracht Frankfurt comes to an end come next summer. The Japan international has made quite a name for himself in the Bundesliga, regularly contributing in the final third with goals and assists for his team.
So far this campaign he has 16 goal involvements (12 goals and four assists) from 22 appearances in all competitions and he is well on track to surpassing his numbers from last term. The player recently admitted that he is in discussions with his club to extend his deal, yet interest from other sides could sway his final decision.
Houssem Aouar (Lyon)
Could the summer of 2023 be the year Aouar finally gets his move to the Premier League? Excelling for Lyon in previous years, it would not be a transfer window without talk of the Frenchman swapping Lyon for England.
More than capable of playing either as a central midfielder, attacking midfielder or from the left, the 24-year-old would bring some real quality to the Tottenham team as he is excellent on the ball and impressive at getting it forward. Good at creating shooting positions for himself and his teammates, he has 41 goals and 35 assists from his 221 games in all competitions.
Tottenham require more creative players in Conte's squad to help ease the burden on Kulusevski, with Aouar someone who could more than help out in the final third. He would be an excellent addition on a free transfer if Tottenham could get a deal over the line.
Ruslan Malinovskyi (Atalanta)
Malinovskyi has been tipped for a move to Tottenham numerous times over the past few months, with the player no doubt set to be in the headlines a fair bit over the coming weeks with the January transfer window not far away at all. A player Conte and Paratici know well from their time in Italy, the Ukraine ace has recorded some very impressive numbers with Atalanta (30 goals and 28 assists in 142 games) and Genk (30 goals and 32 assists in 135 games).
Capable of playing across midfield, the 29-year-old would give Conte options and his quality on the ball would be a big asset to the Lilywhites. Someone they could potentially get in a cut-price deal in January, he would cost nothing come the summer if they could agree a pre-contract with him.
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