Tottenham director Johan Lange has blamed the new UEFA tournament format for the club's slow transfer dealings last month.
During the January window, the north London side made three signings in the form of Antonin Kinsky, Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel - who joined the club on deadline day.
Along with Tel's last-minute move, Spurs also sealed their loan (with an option to buy) for defender Danso in the final days of the transfer window.
Given the current injury crisis at the club, many Spurs fans had hoped the club would have sorted their transfer business earlier in the window. That was not the case.
Explaining the situation on SpursPlay, Lange said: 'We, as a club, would have liked to have done all the signings on January 1st. We were ready to do that. But, it's not as easy as that.
'This January, in particular, the dynamic changed a little bit. We're not the only team who has injuries. And, there's the dynamic of the new European format.
'Meaning that the clubs competing in Europe have had to play group matches in January, which is never the case.
'Normally, clubs would know their fate in those competitions by December. But the fact is that there are now two group games in the last part of January, as well as more teams going through the group stage into the play-off stages.
'And those things mean clubs are more reluctant. And it's about finding the right players - not just the first players available'.
Spurs made the signing of goalkeeper Kinsky from Slavia Prague in the opening week of the window but fans had to wait a while longer before their other two acquisitions.
The club looked as though they were going to miss out on Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel - after he initially rejected a move to north London.
However, after a discussion with head coach Ange Postecoglou, the French youngster quickly changed his mind and agreed to the move.
The loan deal comes with an option to buy for Spurs, however the player will have the final say as to whether the move becomes permanent.
Tel also revealed the key role Harry Kane played in convincing him to join Tottenham on deadline day.
In a video released on Tottenham's official X account, Tel was asked whether he had spoken to Kane about the club.
Tel replied: 'He told me this is a big club with a lot of very good people. The pitch is very nice, the training centre is very good and if you go there you can enjoy it.
'Everything was positive from Harry Kane .'