This article is part of Football FanCast's Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news...

Mauricio Pochettino has requested that Tottenham Hotspur try to sign Carles Alena from Barcelona, per Calciomercato.

What’s the word?

The 21-year-old has struggled to make an impact at the Camp Nou this term, making just one appearance, in the opening game of the 2019/20 La Liga campaign.

In total, Alena has 35 Barca appearances to his name (excluding Barcelona B), scoring three goals, and has also won two caps for Spain U21s.

Interested parties are monitoring his situation and Pochettino is said to “dote” on Alena to the point where he has asked the club to secure a deal for his services.

AC Milan are also interested and Barca are said to be willing to loan him out in January.

Extra midfield depth not needed

This feels odd.

Spurs don’t really need another midfielder, especially on loan.

They currently have a number of options in the position, with Tanguy Ndombele, Moussa Sissoko, Christian Eriksen, Giovani Lo Celso, Harry Winks, Oliver Skipp, Eric Dier, Dele Alli and Victor Wanyama all capable of playing in the role.

That’s a total of nine options; if Alena were to join in January, would he do anything to actually solve some of the issues Spurs are facing?

He cannot play at right-back, where Serge Aurier is struggling – WhoScored states that he has garnered ratings below six on three occasions this term – nor is he a potential replacement for Eriksen, whose contract expires in the summer.

Alena tends to play deeper than the Denmark international with Transfermarkt documenting 82 out of 89 appearances there for Barca B.

Defence is another position that should take greater priority too, with Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen having contracts that run out at the end of the season as well. Bringing in Alena won't remedy that in the slightest.

Signing him would be like buying the cherry before you’ve even made the cake; it makes precious little sense at this stage. That Pochettino has reportedly requested the deal himself is even more nonsensical.