Tottenham are expected to shelve plans to bring Internacional midfielder Sandro to England this month.
The Times says Spurs look to have sealed a deal for Sandro but the holding midfield player is not expected to turn up at White Hart Lane until the summer.
Internacional, the Brazilian club, are refusing to let him leave sooner and Spurs will have to obtain special permission for a work permit because the player has been capped only once at senior level by Brazil.
Tottenham failed in their attempts to sign the former Brazil Under-20 captain in the summer.