Tottenham are keen to remove Emmanuel Adebayor from their wage bill in January in order to fund a move for another forward - with Manchester United's Javier Hernandez in their sights.
Adebayor is a clear third choice in the plans of coach Andre Villas-Boas behind Roberto Soldado and Jermain Defoe, and the club were keen to sell the 29-year-old last summer but potential buyers were put off by his high wages.
Turkish side Besiktas remain interested along with clubs in the Middle-East and Russia but Standard Sport understands the player would prefer to move to a higher-profile European league.
Villas-Boas is keen to sign another striker when the transfer window reopens at the start of next year, with Manchester United’s Mexican forward on the club’s list of targets. Adebayor earns close to £100,000 a week, making him the club’s highest-paid player but he struggled to find his best form last season after joining Spurs permanently in the summer of 2012.
At the end of last season, Villas-Boas made it clear his priorities in attack lay elsewhere and then Adebayor’s pre-season was reduced when he was granted compassionate leave following the death of his brother.
He was asked to train with the club’s development squad but has now returned to work with the first team. Even though Adebayor’s chances of reviving his Spurs career look slim, Defoe believes he still has something to offer. He said: “He is someone that we’re going to need. Hopefully he will be back soon with the team.”
