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

According to The Times, Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino wants five players gone in January as he bids to rescue the club's season, and chairman Daniel Levy has a big part to play.

What's the word, then?

Well, The Times report that Pochettino plans to accelerate a clear-out of underperforming Spurs in January following their dismal start to the 2019 campaign, which has seen them knocked out of the Carabao Cup, lose 7-2 at home to Bayern Munich and lie 13 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool after just eight games.

The Argentine wants rid of Eric Dier, Christian Eriksen, Serge Aurier, Victor Wanyama and Danny Rose – all of whom the report adds the north London outfit wanted to sell during the previous summer transfer window.

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The Times says that the negative atmosphere around the squad this term has stemmed from players being told they weren’t wanted, but remaining at the club beyond the deadline.

Levy needs to deliver

The Tottenham chairman is reportedly right behind the man he appointed in 2014, and now he needs to make sure he fulfils his January wish.

It is clear to see that something hasn't quite been right with Spurs, their players and the manager this season, and if The Times is right it could be down to unwanted players ending up staying in north London.

In that sense, Levy must not let Pochettino down when it comes to moving these players on in January, and should already be exploring avenues of possibility so that they can go for the best possible deal as early in the New Year as they can.

Doing that would also allow the 47-year-old to get in any players he wants at that point, with what is a bloated squad surely needing to be cut before new signings can be brought in.