Tottenham Hotspur 3 - 2 AaB

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Updated: November 28, 2007, 6:13 PM UK

Juande Ramos has highlighted the need for experience in his Tottenham squad but insists he will not sign players out of desperation during the January transfer window.

The Spaniard has been linked with a host of players from La Liga since his arrival at White Hart Lane a month ago, although mid-season transfer policy will be dictated by the potential of Spurs' season.

They will move a step closer to the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup with victory over Danish side Aalborg on Thursday, and if there is a chance of pushing for Europe through the Premier League he could strengthen.

Ramos, though, is wary of the quality of players available in January.

'I don't like the January transfer market because the good players are already with their teams,' said the Spurs head coach.

'If a team has a good player, they are not going to give him away. In January, the only teams that sign players are the desperate teams.

'You've got to make your signings calmly and be certain about what you want and what you need.'

He added: 'If we have possibilities in important competitions we will weigh it up. If that isn't the case, we are not going to spend money or do things that don't interest us this season.

'At the moment we're in the UEFA Cup group stages and if we get through them, the competition starts again in March. By then, the transfer window will have closed. We will have to take the decision when we know whether we are in or out.'

Although Ramos may not make radical changes in January, he is aware of the need for leadership and an experienced defender in Spurs' leaky defence.

Younes Kaboul has made a series of errors at centre-back but the French youngster is struggling with a groin injury so Ramos will be spared a difficult decision against Aalborg.

To compound his problems at the back, Ramos has no definite time-frame for Ledley King's return from knee surgery.

'Yes, we need experience and leadership,' Ramos said.

'Because the team is very young, it's possible we need somebody to take responsibility and cope with the pressure we're under at the moment.'

King's recovery has been limited to training with the squad for two days a week before building up his fitness on his own.

Ramos added: 'Ledley King is very far away. It is difficult to say two weeks, three weeks, three months or four months. There hasn't been a setback. It's a serious injury and it's a slow recovery.'

Getting an experienced player is at odds with how Spurs have operated in the transfer market recently - they have targeted young players with potential for profit if sold on.

Last year they bought Ricardo Rocha who was not a youngster but his limited impact illustrates Ramos' reluctance to be a big mover in January.

Ramos could let some of his squad players go but wants to keep his key players, even if chairman Daniel Levy could not guarantee Dimitar Berbatov staying when he spoke earlier in the week.

'Normally it is the coach who asks for specific players for a specific position,' Ramos said.

'But you have to adapt to the philosophy of the club and the economic situation.

'One thing's for sure, if I have a good player I'm not going to give him to another team.

'At the end of the season, there could be some players of the level that would interest us.'