Tottenham have no interest in selling defender Kevin Wimmer

Tottenham defender Kevin Wimmer will not be allowed to leave the club during the January transfer window, according to Sky sources.

On Saturday, Schalke chairman Clemens Toennies told Sky Germany that talks were underway to bring Wimmer to Gelsenkirchen this month.

The Bundesliga side are currently on the lookout for defensive reinforcements after captain and centre-back Benedikt Howedes sustained a thigh injury that is expected to keep him on the sidelines for up to three months.

However, Sky sources understand Wimmer will not be allowed to depart Tottenham this month, ending Schalke's pursuit of the 23-year-old.

Tottenham are yet to discover the severity of the injury Jan Vertonghen suffered at Crystal Palace

Wimmer, who joined Tottenham from FC Koln last summer, has failed to make a Premier League start for Spurs this season, but much of that has been down to the superb partnership formed between Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld.

Having featured five times for Tottenham in Europe and the domestic cup competitions, Wimmer made his Premier League debut on Saturday in the 3-1 victory at Crystal Palace, replacing the injured Vertonghen.

The Austrian international is back-up to Vertonghen and a prolonged spell on the sidelines for the latter would hand Wimmer his Premier League chance and he is sure to be needed as the games begin to pile up for Spurs.

Mauricio Pochettino's men are fourth in the Premier League but also face an FA Cup fourth round meeting with Colchester next weekend and the resumption of the Europa League is just a couple of weeks away.