One area Tottenham looked to improve in the summer was on the left flank. The departure of Son Heung-Min left a gaping hole on the wing, even if the South Korean’s form dipped under Ange Postecoglou.

Spurs, to their credit, tried for a new winger. Savinho was the first choice for the club but Manchester City’s reluctance to cash in on the Brazilian hindered Spurs’ quest to strengthen.

Even so, there are other left wing options on the market. And with the January window looming, we pick out four Spurs could target in the New Year…

Antoine Semenyo – Bournemouth

The first-choice option for some supporters. Antoine Semenyo has excelled for Bournemouth in recent months and has made a stunning start to the season, scoring six goals and providing three assists. Spurs already have one Ghanaian star on the flank. Why not add another?

Not only is Semenyo a direct threat in the same vein as compatriot Mohammed Kudus – the former has completed 18 dribbles in the Premier League this season, a metric led by the latter (30) – but he brings variety to the flank too. The 25-year-old ranks fifth for shots (19), 32nd for key passes (10) and 24th for aerial wins (21) in England’s top tier this term.

Sadly for Spurs, they’d face stiff competition for the Cherries star. Liverpool are known admirers of Semenyo, and are reportedly weighing up a January move for the in-form forward. Manchester United have also been credited with an interest but with a £100m capital injection from the Lewis Family earlier this month, Spurs do have the funds…

Kenan Yildiz – Juventus

Tottenham recently confirmed that Fabio Paratici has returned to the club and will work alongside Johan Lange as co-Sporting Directors. The Italian is a master negotiator and will so often work on a number of deals before pulling the trigger on the preference. And Spurs fans are hoping the Italian can use his Serie A contacts to strike up a deal for Juventus ace Kenan Yildiz.

The young Turkey international has attracted widespread interest across Europe, with rivals Chelsea and La Liga giants Barcelona also rumoured admirers. It’s hardly a shock that heavy hitters are eyeing up a move for Yildiz, whose three league assists have stemmed from 18 key passes, the third most in Serie A this season.

The 20-year-old is viewed as the ideal modern attacker, who can go for goal himself and provide for others. Able to operate in a number of forward roles, it’s off the left where Yildiz shines as he looks to maximise his impressive right foot. And for a Spurs side that is a little more pragmatic under Thomas Frank, Yildiz’s directness would complement Kudus on the opposite flank.

Rafael Leao – AC Milan

Remaining in Italy, and heading over to Milan, there were reports that the Rossoneri would consider the possibility of selling Rafael Leao over the summer. With no European action, the Portuguese winger was viewed as one of the club’s more sellable assets in the off-season as AC Milan pondered a squad overhaul.

Head coach Max Allegri was keen to retain Leao’s services and they managed to ward off interest in the 25-year-old earlier this year. Much of that, though, was due to injury. Indeed, Leao only started his first league match of the season on Sunday evening, bagging a brace in an eventual 2-1 win over Fiorentina.

Now fit and firing, Leao should play a more prominent role for the Serie A leaders over the coming weeks and months as Allegri looks to mastermind a first Scudetto in four years. Even so, if Spurs are making headway in the Champions League and need an established wideman to bolster the ranks, then a move for Leao shouldn’t be out of the question.

Rodrygo – Real Madrid

Rodrygo was adamant he wouldn’t be leaving Real Madrid over the summer. Despite interest from Premier League trio Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal, the Brazilian was keen to stay at the Bernabeu. This despite a potential lack of game time in the Spanish capital this season.

Xabi Alonso gave an idea of how little Rodrygo may feature this season as the forward registered just 92 minutes of action at the Club World Cup. On his only start over the summer, the 24-year-old was hooked midway through the second half as Real Madrid laboured to a 1-1 draw wit Al-Hilal. Things have hardly improved in La Liga either, with five of Rodrygo’s seven appearances coming from the bench.

In a World Cup year, Rodrygo knows he needs to be featuring frequently. There is plenty of competition for a wide spot in the Brazil squad and without regular minutes at club level, head coach Carlo Ancelotti may look elsewhere as the Selecao seek a sixth World Cup triumph in North America. Spurs were tentatively linked with a move for Rodrygo over the summer, and his versatility would be an added bonus for head coach Thomas Frank.

Like Semenyo, though, interest in Rodrygo would be high if he were to leave Los Blancos in the New Year, with Spurs potentially behind the likes of City and Arsenal in any race for the Real Madrid star.