There is also a more cynical view on loans in that if Postecoglou does not make it beyond the season-defining upcoming period with the two Carabao Cup semi-final legs against Liverpool and the final couple of Europa League games of this stage then loan players do not need to be kept on if there is a managerial change and they no longer fit.
There is understanding within the club of the tough situation Postecoglou is in and the impact on the tired players he is having to put out every three days and how it limits his high-octane football. He is also benefiting from the fact that the Spurs players are still playing for him when his more recent predecessors ultimately lost the support of sections of the dressing room.
However, this period ahead is a crucial one for the constantly fire-fighting Australian to show that Tottenham's season is ultimately better off with him at the helm than without. The results over 2024 as a whole have not been good enough, despite the fifth-place finish in the previous campaign amid the post-Harry Kane rebuild.