Toby Alderweireld is in Barcelona’s sights ahead of the January transfer window.
The Spanish champions want a new centre-back and are looking at the Spurs defender, 29, who has less than a year left on his contract.
Barca, battling injury problems, have already looked at Ajax star Matthijs de Ligt but accept a mid-season deal for the Netherlands international is “impossible”.
Barca have a long-standing interest in Alderweireld whose future has been in doubt since last season with his absence from Mauricio Pochettino’s first team.
He has been back in favour during the current campaign, starting seven of Tottenham’s eight Premier League games so far.
But Spurs are still likely to be open to a deal with Alderweireld’s value diminishing.
The north Londoners have the option of triggering a one-year extension on his current contract. But it which would in turn activ ate a £25million release clause for the final two weeks of next summer’s transfer window.
Alderweireld remains no closer to resolving his contract situation at the club.
Asked about it on international duty last week he said: “”Honestly, I am absolutely not thinking about it at the moment.
“I feel good, play a lot right now and, therefore, am happy. We shall see.”
Manchester United had been heavily linked with a move for Alderweireld in the summer – with Jose Mourinho desperate to bolster his backline.
The Red Devils could return for a swoop in January as Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof have struggled to convince so far this season at Old Trafford.
Alderwiereld has previously said about his summer’s link away from Spurs: “Everyone was saying everywhere that I absolutely wanted to leave Tottenham.
“That’s not true. This summer, I quickly understood Tottenham wanted to keep me.
“So, I had to battle to get my place back in the team. To be in the first team again is a victory for me.”