If Mousa Dembele is indeed set to quit the Premier League for one last payday in China, then Tottenham are certainly squeezing all they can get out of their midfielder.
The 31-year-old's current contract expires at the end of this season and a January sale beckons, though Mauricio Pochettino handed him his fifth successive start yesterday.
Such a workload for a player of his age would take its toll over a season. Yet while Pochettino still has his services, he is making use of the man he has labelled a 'genius' in the past.
What Dembele does tends to go unnoticed. In fact, that has long been a trait of the typical holding midfielder.
At the Amex, Dembele did Dembele things. He showed his strength in individual battles against Brighton's sluggers, he protected possession, he offered the back four an out-ball.
At times, he appeared to be Tottenham's version of an NFL quarterback. He would have the ball and, with his pick of players ahead of him, find his target by lumping it long.
On his day, Dembele can be like a Rolls Royce in midfield.
Powerful and classy, it is all about finding that rhythm. The question over the last few weeks has been whether he can still handle the rigours of the English game.
It looked absent in the defeats against Liverpool and Inter Milan over the last week, though he struck a good balance against Brighton. This was not vintage Tottenham, though their midfield looked stronger with him in it.
Dembele has had his injury issues, including a foot problem that has perpetually held him back.
As a result, the word on the football beat is that Chinese Super League side Beijing Sinobo Guoan are prepared to take him off Tottenham's hands.
They are willing to pay him close to £200,000 per week, while the north London club could receive up to £10million for letting him leave in January.
After a series of defeats, Pochettino needed this win. His players delivered a much-needed victory and Dembele was their protector.
