Tottenham fans will be hoping that Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici already have a plan in place to solve their right wing-back issues in January. Key to the head coach's 3-4-3 system flourishing is getting plenty of joy from the wing-backs on either flank, something which has not been the case at Spurs this season.
Tottenham have been far stronger on the left with Ivan Perisic and Ryan Sessegnon contributing with goals and assists, but it is a different story altogether on the right flank. Conte has continued to persist with Emerson Royal in the position even though he only has one assist to his name and offers very little in an attacking sense due to the fact he has spent his career playing as a right-back.
Matt Doherty's failure to find his top form after a knee injury has not helped his cause, with Conte so far only giving summer signing Djed Spence 26 minutes across four appearances. Conte and Paratici need to find a solution sooner rather than later if the Tottenham setup is to flow as the head coach wants.
READ MORE: Tottenham's Harry Kane and Son Heung-min nominated for Fans' Footballer of the Year award
One player who has been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium recently is Inter Milan's Denzel Dumfries. A player many will know well after starring for the Netherlands at Euro 2020, the 26-year-old is now doing likewise for his country at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Helping Oranje top Group A with seven points from a possible nine, Louis van Gaal's men sealed their spot in the quarter-finals with a 3-1 triumph over the United States on Saturday. Dumfries played an integral role as ever, scoring his side's final goal of the evening and setting up the first two.
Showing his attacking qualities throughout with some impressive runs forward, it only took ten minutes for the ex-PSV to make his mark as Memphis Depay netted. In line with the Dutch frontmen as they broke forward, Dumfries received the ball on the right of the area and expertly pulled it back for his teammate to finish in style as he found the bottom corner.
His second assist was a carbon copy as Daley Blind was this time on hand to convert. Having taken a throw-in to Marten de Roon before carrying on his run, Dumfries linked up with Davy Klaassen and duly pulled the ball back once again into an inviting area to hand his fellow wing-back a gift he couldn't turn down.
Showcasing the movement Tottenham are currently lacking down the right, he also displayed the awareness and quality on the ball that Harry Kane and his fellow attackers are crying out for on a regular basis. Unable to keep out Haji Wright's looping effort on 76 minutes as he couldn't wrap his foot around the ball at the back post, Dumfries ensured that the Netherlands restored their two-goal lead five minutes later with a goal his performance deserved.
Linking up with Blind once again as he ghosted in at the back post unmarked to get on the end of his teammate's pinpoint delivery, the Inter man had acres of space and confidently volleyed home from seven yards to give Matt Turner no chance. It was no surprise to see why a number of the Dutch team went straight over to the right-sided player at the full-time whistle following his eye-catching performance at Khalifa International Stadium.
His masterclass left Tottenham fans purring and all will be hoping that Paratici and Conte do indeed launch a move for him come January. The problem for Spurs and other interested clubs is that his transfer value, which is currently £24million on Transfermarkt, is only increasing as a result of his performances on the biggest stage of all.
Moving to the San Siro from PSV in 2021 for a paltry £12m, Inter will indeed make a tidy profit if they decide to cash in on him either in January or next summer. With seven goals and ten assists during his time in Italy, as well as 16 goals and 20 assists for PSV, it's no surprise why a host of clubs are constantly linked with the marauding right wing-back.
Dumfries is certainly someone who can help solve Tottenham's problems but he will cost a considerable fee if they are to entice him to the capital. A repeat of his heroics against the United States week in, week out and he will be worth every single penny.
READ NEXT:
Son Heung-min, Harry Kane, Rodrigo Bentancur - Tottenham World Cup winners and losers so far
The Giovani Lo Celso transfer clause which could come into play as Tottenham face loan decisions
What Tottenham players and Antonio Conte have been doing since Hotspur Way training return
Antonio Conte could be set for huge Tottenham training boost as World Cup trio face pivotal game
Full list of Tottenham players going to Qatar 2022 World Cup as Eric Dier, Rodrigo Bentancur in
