Schalke have made an offer to take Nabil Bentaleb on loan with view to a permanent £17million transfer.
The 21-year-old midfielder is eager to move to the Bundesliga but Tottenham have been reluctant to accept anything other than a permanent deal.
Schalke are one of the wealthiest clubs in the world but have proposed guarantees for the fee based on Bentaleb playing a set amount of games.
The Algeria international is surplus to requirements at White Hart Lane and Schalke coach Markus Weinzierl believes the midfielder can work well behind Max Meyer and Breel Embolo.