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Tottenham Hotspur will allow Mousa Dembele to leave on a free transfer next summer as they are not discussing a renewal with the Belgium international, according to The Sun.

What's the word?

Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham have enjoyed a fine start to their Premier League campaign and, despite encountering troubles on the European stage, are amongst the contenders fighting at the top of the standings this season.

Spurs are embroiled in a major period of change, however, and are set to lose a core member of their squad next summer in the form of Mousa Dembele as The Sun states no talks regarding a contract renewal have taken place.

Therefore, the 31-year-old will be moving on from North London and has suitors in Italy in the form of Inter Milan but a move to China or the Middle East is the most likely scenario, as he aims to move to a less physically demanding league for the twilight years of his career.

A major loss?

Still a regular starter for Spurs, featuring in seven of the eight Premier League games this season, Dembele's biggest asset in Mauricio Pochettino's side is his versatility and replacing his experience will be a tough task.

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Signed for £15m from Fulham in 2012, Spurs will have to pay a considerably higher fee in the market for a replacement as there is currently no candidate within their squad who stands out as a capable successor to the Belgium ace.

With almost a decade of Premier League experience and 180 league appearances for Spurs, Dembele will be a huge loss to Spurs and the news that there is no chance of him renewing his stay should spark the club into immediate action in the hunt for a replacement.