Tottenham Hotspur outcast Vincent Janssen could remain at the club for the rest of the season after they failed to agree a deal with Schalke 04 before the German transfer deadline.
Germany's transfer window slammed shut at 5pm GMT, before Spurs could come to terms with Schalke over a loan move for the Dutchman.
Janssen is deemed surplus to requirements by manager Mauricio Pochettino and has not made a single appearance for the club since 2017.
Spurs are eager to offload the 24-year-old before today's 11pm English transfer deadline, but that appears increasingly unlikely with other interested parties beginning to look elsewhere for targets.
Real Betis had been credited with an interest in Janssen, but they have now stalled on an offer and are understood to have prioritised negotiations for Lucas Perez and Michy Batshuayi.
Cardiff City are another club to have been linked with the former Netherlands international, although manager Neil Warnock has played down the likelihood of the Bluebirds signing a striker on deadline day.