As the final forty-eight hours of the January transfer window tick away, the intensity in the recruitment offices of North London has reached a fever pitch. Tottenham Hotspur, ever-active under the guidance of Thomas Frank and technical director Johan Lange, 7have spent much of the month hovering around Anfield.
While many expected the club to look abroad for reinforcements, reliable transfer authority Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Spurs were actually looking to raid their Premier League rivals, Liverpool, for not one, but two established stars.
This strategic shift highlights a club desperate to inject proven quality and domestic experience into a squad that has struggled for consistency in the league despite a stellar European run.
The first major target to emerge from the Merseyside-to-London rumor mill was Andy Robertson. The move for the Scottish international was born out of necessity following a devastating, season-ending ankle injury to Ben Davies.
Robertson, an Anfield legend with 365 appearances and a trophy cabinet boasting both Premier League and Champions League winners’ medals, is currently in the final months of his contract. Sensing a unique opportunity to secure an elite left-back for a nominal fee, Tottenham reportedly reached an agreement in principle for a £5 million deal to bring him to the capital immediately.
Reports suggest that the 31-year-old Robertson was personally very open to the prospect of a new challenge in London. However, the deal hit a significant roadblock that often defines the January window: the “domino effect.”
Liverpool, despite Robertson’s contract status, found it impossible to source a suitable replacement on such short notice. Without a successor lined up, the Reds’ hierarchy refused to sign off on the departure, leaving Robertson in limbo at least until his contract expires in the summer.
Whether Spurs make one final, desperate push for him before the Monday deadline remains to be seen, but the groundwork for a future move has clearly been laid.
However, Robertson wasn’t the only Liverpool player on Tottenham’s radar. In a fresh update shared on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano revealed that the Lilywhites were “very aggressive” in their pursuit of midfielder Curtis Jones at the beginning of the month.
Before Tottenham successfully secured the signature of former Chelsea captain Conor Gallagher, they had viewed Jones as a primary target to revitalize their engine room. The 25-year-old represents the modern, versatile midfielder that Thomas Frank admires someone capable of playing in a deep pivot, as a roaming number eight, or even filling in across the forward line.
The pursuit of Jones is particularly interesting given his current situation at Liverpool. While he has featured in 20 league matches this season under Arne Slot, he has only started half of them. For a player entering his prime, this lack of consistent “starting eleven” status is a growing concern, especially with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon.
Jones is currently in a high-stakes race to impress England manager Thomas Tuchel, and he knows that regular minutes are the only currency that matters in international selection. This lack of continuity is likely what gave Tottenham the confidence to approach Liverpool in the first place, hoping to tempt the player with the promise of a guaranteed role in North London.
Arne Slot has been vocal about Jones’ potential, frequently describing him as a “complete” player. The Liverpool boss has praised his confidence on the ball and his relentless work rate in defensive transitions. However, Slot has also pointed out that for Jones to reach the world-class tier, he must find a level of consistency that allows him to “turn up every three days.”
It is this specific challenge that has led to rumors linking Jones with Italian giants Inter Milan in the final hours of the window. While the Serie A heavyweights are reportedly preparing a move, Liverpool’s current stance is that the player is not for sale, viewing him as a vital part of their squad depth for the second half of the season.
For Tottenham, the decision to pivot to Conor Gallagher after the Jones deal proved difficult shows a club that is acting with a clear plan. Gallagher brings a similar level of energy and Premier League pedigree, but the aggressive interest in Jones reveals just how much Spurs value technical playmakers who can also put in a defensive shift.
The fact that Tottenham was willing to challenge a direct rival for two of their senior players shows a new level of assertiveness in their transfer strategy.
As we move into the final hours of the window, the focus for Spurs shifts to finalizing any remaining deals and integrating their new signings. The failed pursuit of Robertson and the initial aggression toward Jones may seem like missed opportunities, but they demonstrate that Tottenham is no longer content with “project” signings alone.
They are hunting for finished products who can change the dynamic of the team instantly. With the Champions League knockout rounds looming, Thomas Frank knows that his squad needs every bit of quality it can get.
Whether a late surprise emerges from the Liverpool camp or if Spurs settle with their current business, the “aggressive” nature of their January activity has certainly sent a message to the rest of the league.
