Mousa Dembele is a shock target for Chinese side Beijing Sinobo Guoan.
The Chinese Super League team is prepared to pay Dembele £160,000-a-week over the next three years – at least double his current wages at Spurs.
It is understood that no official bid has been made by Beijing Guoan but sources in China claim the deal could be done before the Chinese transfer window closes on February 28.
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Dembele, 30, signed a new deal with Tottenham two years ago but it now has less than 18 months to run.
Boss Mauricio Pochettino would surely not want to lose the midfield dynamo, who was outstanding in victories over Manchester United and Arsenal, especially not in the middle of the season.
Dembele will turn 31 in July but shows no obvious signs of slowing down as Spurs challenge in the Champions League as well as the domestic front this season.
Sources at Tottenham insist their star midfielder is not for sale.
Dembele was particularly impressive during Tottenham’s 1-0 win over Arsenal in last Saturday’s North London derby.
And since the start of the year the Belgian has emerged as the key midfielder in the engine room of Poch’s side.
Dembele has attracted interest from elsewhere.
During the January transfer window, AC Milan were linked with an ambitious bid to sign him.
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It is possible the Serie A giants thought they could have got Dembele cheap after a persistent ankle injury kept him on the sidelines for much of the early part of the season.
But now with the former Fulham star fighting fit, it appears the CSL will attempt to test the waters with Spurs.
Former Bayer Leverkusen manager Roger Schmidt, 50, is currently boss of the Beijing side.