Tottenham have been knocked back in their pursuit of multiple players in this transfer window, with Luis Diaz the latest to join that list.
Diaz, formally of Porto, joined Liverpool on Sunday in what is reportedly a £49million deal after the Reds made a late move to beat Monday's transfer deadline.
Despite the latest setback, the draw of playing under Antonio Conte in the Premier League will be a big one for many elite players and for that reason we've taken a look at five alternative players Spurs could sign instead of Diaz.
Raphinha (Leeds United)
At 25-years-old, the same as Diaz, Leeds' Raphinha is the prime age for a signing by Spurs and would offer something different as a left-footed player ready to cut in off the right wing, something Spurs don't currently have.
He will have two years left on his current contract in the summer and is a proven Premier League player for whom a Spurs move could appeal to, as he is currently in a relegation battle with Leeds.
The Brazilian international is fast and effective while counter-attacking and also contributes to the build-up, posting more progressive passes than most forwards.
He also brings expert set-piece delivery off his left-foot and would suit Conte's style as an intense forward who covers a lot of ground, albeit one who may only be available in the summer.
Moussa Diaby (Bayer Leverkusen)
At just 22 years-old, Bayer Leverkusen's Moussa Diaby would be a good option for the long-term as a winger who is capable of playing on both flanks.
He is two-footed, although he prefers his left 77 per cent of the time and has scored 17 non-penalty goals in the Bundesliga since moving from PSG in 2019.
He merges scoring ability with creativity and has registered 22 assists alongside his goals. One stumbling block could be the fact he is contracted at Leverkusen until 2025.
Another bonus would be the fact that he has not missed a single match for his club through injury but despite being a tricky and unpredictable dribbler, he might not be ready yet for a move to the Premier League.
Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)
Another 25-year-old, Christopher Nkunku has made a name for himself as a big-time player, scoring seven goals in the Champions League group stages this season, including a hat-trick against Manchester City.
He will have two years left on his contract in the summer and he is very versatile, having played in midfield, on both flanks as well as a No. 10 in his time in Germany.
Since being poached from PSG by RB Leipzig in 2019 he has been prolific for a midfielder, scoring 20 non-penalty league goals since his move. He merges scoring with creating and has also registered 26 assists alongside his goals.
He will be playing European football with Leipzig for the remainder of the season so Spurs may have to wait until the summer to sign him but a big offer could tempt the Germans this month.
Dejan Kulusevski (Juventus)
Once rated as one of the brightest young talents in Europe, Dejan Kuluzewski of Juventus could potentially be available on a loan deal for Spurs and at 21 could be a bright prospect with a view to a permanent contract.
A primarily attacking right-winger, he also has experience in central midfield and played off Alexander Isak as a second striker with Sweden at Euro 2020.
A left footer, he inclined to cut inside from the right and despite struggling at Turin his quality is undoubted, having scored nine non-penalty goals and registered eight assists in Serie A for Parma as a teenager.
Conte will appreciate the fact that he shows up well against his peers for defensive work and pressures and is also creative, with one drawback being perhaps the fact that he often lacks a scoring threat.
Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona)
An alternative option could be Ousmane Dembele of Barcelona, who could be signed for a reduced price or even loaned for six months considering Barcelona seem eager to get him off the books with his contract up in June.
Barcelona have instructed him to find a new club according to reports and former Spurs target Adama Traore seems to be their replacement for him.
Despite his struggles in Catalonia, he is just 24-years-old and due to his two-footedness he can play effectively off both flanks and contribute superbly to counter-attacks due to his directness and dribbling ability.
The big risk with a move is the player's injury troubles and the fact that he hasn't started more than 22 league matches in a single season since emerging as a teenager at Rennes will be a worry for Spurs.
