Why Tottenham's faith in Mauricio Pochettino's system will likely see them resist buying Harry Kane cover

It would be an easy conclusion after watching Tottenham somehow steal all three points at Craven Cottage on Sunday , a last-gasp victory that demonstrated how much they struggle to create chances without Harry Kane, to suggest that bringing in a striker is Spurs’ only option this month.

That Kane was injured while Son Heung-min is also going to be at the Asian Cup is unfortunate timing but that is mitigated a little by the January transfer window being open. Watching Fernando Llorente labouring against Fulham, it is hard to conclude that there is not a player out there available (on loan, at least) who wouldn’t represent an upgrade on a 33-year-old veteran who never had much pace to lose but seems to have still somehow slowed down.

And yet Tottenham won’t do it. Well, they probably won’t. Mauricio Pochettino certainly doesn’t seem interested in going out into the market and trying to find someone now. There is no interest remaining in Malcom, from Barcelona, or Jarrod Bowen of Hull City despite what may have been discussed before. Pochettino is used to the realities of Spurs’ transfer policy and it handily even works as a shield for him sometimes. Lucas Moura’s return to fitness seems most likely to fill the gap left by Tottenham’s two leading goal threats being absent. Moura will be better than Llorente, then Son’s return from international duty will represent a further upgrade until Kane is back fit. There will likely be a staggered timeline to getting back to their best.

Given their recent record of buying strikers as Kane’s back-up and the inflated prices quoted when English clubs - let alone rich English clubs - ask about players, perhaps staying put and betting on players who are deeply-versed in Pochettino’s system is better. There is something to be said for the quality of coaching at Tottenham that the players look sometimes to almost run themselves. Like they are self-automated in the way they play.

One moment stood out against Fulham, around 29 minutes in, when Kieran Trippier got the ball out of his feet on the right side of the field, midway into Fulham’s half, and looked up towards the opposing penalty area. Trippier, a fan of those swirling, Beckham-inspired crosses, was seeking targets but the first person in his line of vision was actually Toby Alderweireld staring at him from about seven yards away, shouting and pointing backwards at Jan Vertonghen, who stood waiting on the left of the centre-circle, a retreat of some 20-odd yards to halfway.

Trippier’s reaction was akin to that of a child whose mischievous spark had just been extinguished but knew what he had to do; so he pivoted and swung a skimming, curled pass to Vertonghen who would spread the ball left and keep possession circulating. This was a directive you could see from the training ground, taken in by the players and then reinforced in-game. There are several moments like this when you watch Tottenham, when you realise that they both faithfully obey and truly understand what they are being asked to do by their coach.

Compare that to the team they were facing and Claudio Ranieri’s problems are laid bare.

Ranieri stood forlornly after the game sporting that difficult post-defeat combination of a “we’re seven points from safety” grimace and an “ignore the screaming, they say this ship is unsinkable” smile - and lamented his side’s decision to loft a ball into the box during injury time, trying to see out a 1-1 draw against a potential title contender.

“We lacked experience,” Ranieri said.

“The time was one minute at the end, we had a free kick and we put the ball into the box, why? Put the ball into the corner.

“It's okay, we have to continue, we have to continue to fight, we made a mountain. We must continue in this way and try.”

Effort was about all Ranieri had to fall back on. This team that was lauded for its near £150m of spending in the summer finds itself seven points adrift of safety hurtling towards February. Those players brought in at great expense, with significant intermediary fees paid and larger wages than some established Premier League sides were willing to offer, are looking like a costly investment that may yet be allowed to leave on the cheap if the worst should occur.

Don’t consider this a cast-iron guarantee that Spurs won’t strengthen their attack this January as they look to stay in touch with a top two that are desperately trying to kick out the ladder beneath them, but Spurs remain a team that will always bank on Pochettino coaching this team to success than anything you can buy.

It is precisely why Real Madrid and Manchester United should be interested in trying to lure him away from Tottenham, but the four-and-a-half years it has taken him to coach them to this level is one of the reasons he should consider staying.

Madrid haven’t given that long to a manager since Miguel Muñoz left in 1974 - 38 managers ago. Manchester United have burned through four and are now on their fifth manager in five-and-a-half years since Sir Alex Ferguson - a once-in-a-lifetime proposition - stepped down.

For Pochettino, it might be a case of better the devil you know.