Lewis Holtby
Lewis Holtby [Reuters]

Lewis Holtby's agent Marcus Noack claims that the unsettled Tottenham midfielder is likely to move away before the transfer widow closes with Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04 reportedly interested in acquiring his services.

Tottenham signed Holtby from Schalke just 12 months after paying £1.25m but the player has struggled to secure a regular place in the Spurs starting line-up, especially since Tim Sherwood's appointment as head coach.

Dortmund and Holtby's former club have been heavily linked with a move for the German player and according to his agent his exit before the end of the transfer window is closer than ever.

"My feeling is that he will leave but it's not in our hands at the moment," Holtby's agent told Press Association Sport as ITV quotes.

"Tottenham have to agree to let him go first. We hope to find a solution in the next couple of days.

I think it will be a loan because it is difficult for anyone to buy Lewis," Noack added.

Tottenham have already blocked Etienne Capoue's move to Napoli and although they only paid £1.25m for Holtby one year ago now they are demanding between £8m and £10m for the 23-year-old.

Holtby made a number of starting appearances under Andre Villas-Boas but has only started one game since Tim Sherwood took over and has not featured at all in the club's last four Premier League games.

Borussia Dortmund were reportedly leading the race to secure his services last month but their interest have cooled in recent days and now Schalke are in the pole position to secure his services.

Holtby spent three and a half seasons at Schalke before moving to England and with Arsenal target Julian Draxler's future up in the air the German side are willing to get the Tottenham midfielder back.

Meanwhile in England Fulham have also been linked with a temporary move for the midfielder.