Mauricio Pochettino warns Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy over January signings as he eyes summer instead

Pochettino believes the most likely signings are ones on a pre-contract

Pochettino does not believe Spurs can financially compete with the likes of City and United in January (Getty)

Mauricio Pochettino has warned chairman Daniel Levy that Tottenham Hotspur must learn the lessons of their transfer market failings of last summer.

Tottenham might have broken their transfer record in signing Ajax defender Davinson Sanchez for £40m, as well as back-up striker Fernando Llorente, in the summer window, but their squad looks light compared to their big-spending rivals.

Now Pochettino on Friday ruled out a January signing spree as he focuses his attentions on long-term solutions rather than short-term fixes, citing Dele Alli signing a £5m pre-contract deal from MK Dons back in February 2015 as a blueprint to use again next month.

“In January it's so difficult to find the right profile of the player to add in this transfer window to help you achieve what you want,” said Pochettino. “Dele is a very good example that you need to anticipate and today we are at a club that needs to anticipate. We cannot be reactive because if we are, we are going to lose.

“Maybe we need to sign the player in January and they can join in the summer, so six months before. Because if we are going to compete in the same period with Man City, Man United, Liverpool or Chelsea, then we are going to struggle to bring the players we want.

“And you need to be clever. Sometimes if you want to do business when the World Cup is finished, and some players are down the bottom and then after a good World Cup they are at the top, then you can say goodbye to that.”

Alli has been one of the club's shrewdest ever transfers but the England midfielder has failed to scale the heights which has seen him win the PFA Young Player of the Year award for the last two seasons. He has scored just seven times in all competitions this time around and even his own supporters are slowly losing their patience with his him.

When asked if he was happy with Alli's contribution, Pochettino said: “Of course. He was here a few days ago and he said, yes, always I want to win and improve and do better but sometimes the player struggles but I am happy with his attitude and everything.

“There's been some good and some not so good moments. But that is normal in young players.”

Spurs face Stoke on Saturday, a mammoth 18 points behind runaway league leaders Manchester City. It is little surprise they have already given to the ghost for the title.

Spurs have struggled in recent games and are 18 points off the pace (Getty)

But it was at this time last year where Pochettino's side, fresh from being eliminated from the Champions League at the group stages, began to find their feet and begin their ascent to the top.

Spurs don't return to European action until February and Pochettino said: “Some difficult periods happen for all the teams. For us it's happened now. I hope after the final Champions League game with Apoel, it's changed the dynamic.

“Sometimes the dynamic changes and we are working so hard to try to change that and have a little bit more luck in different situations to win games. We have a very strong squad, enough quality and we trust in us.

“I'm positive and optimistic. Of course we need to improve in different areas. We are focused now on the Premier League, we finished the Champions League in a very good way.

“Now for us it's to start to win games and so important to be focused on the Premier League until the FA Cup comes in January.”