Tottenham Offer Schalke €1m to Hurry Through Holtby Deal – Report

Tottenham are believed to have offered to pay Schalke €1million in order for the Bundesliga club to allow midfielder Lewis Holtby to leave during the current transfer window.

The 22-year-old has already signed a pre-contract agreement with Tottenham and is due to move to White Hart Lane in the summer as a Bosman free agent. However, after an injury ruled Sandro out of the rest of the season it seems the club would ideally like Holtby to move in January.

Lewis Holtby celebrates his goal against Hanover [Reuters]

Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas admitted in a press conference last week that it would be unlikely that a deal would happen but that they were assessing their options.

"The only thing we've done at the moment is hold onto our midfielders. I don't think [Holtby will arrive in January]. At the moment, it's very, very difficult but let's see," said Villas-Boas.

It seems that after securing the 1-1 draw with Manchester United at the weekend, and having watched Holtby excel in Schalke's 5-4 win over Hanover last Friday, they are now ready to thrash out a deal with the German club.

The Guardian has reported that Tottenham made the offer, which equates to £840,000, but that Schalke are holding out for a bid in the region of €2million.

There is a growing feeling that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is ready to sanction a bid for Holtby as the club have a genuine chance of once again finishing in the top four and claiming a place in the Champions League.

It has been reported that Schalke believe they will lose the attacking midfielder this month and they have already moved to find a suitable replacement by signing Raffael from Dynamo Kiev, while they are also in talks with Lyon about brining Michel Bastos to the club.