Ryan Sessegnon faces starting the season in the Championship, with Fulham's teenage star still stuck in limbo.
Sessegnon, 19, is wanted by Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino in a £25million deal.
The England Under-21 international is not fit to kick off the Cottagers’ campaign when it gets underway this weekend, having been struggling with a hamstring injury.
And he had wanted to complete his switch back to the Premier League by now.
However, Spurs are taking a deal down to the last minute, with club chiefs determined to sell Danny Rose first.
But his exit is now far from certain.
England international Rose has been linked with moves abroad - notably to Paris Saint Germain and Atletico Madrid - but will only leave White Hart Lane if a deal is right for him.
Having been left out of Spurs’ squad early in pre-season, Rose was back in action for the Audi Cup in Munich last week.
Now, a situation is fast developing where he could stay put - and scupper Sessegnon’s move.