TOTTENHAM officials have warned Sunderland off their pursuit of Moussa Dembele, with the Belgian midfielder set to remain at White Hart Lane next season.

Black Cats head coach Dick Advocaat is keen to make a couple of attacking additions before the transfer window closes, and Dembele had been regarded as a leading midfield target.

Sunderland’s recruitment team are understood to have inquired about the 28-year-old’s potential availability, but even though he only made ten Premier League starts last season, Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is reluctant to lose him this summer.

With Benjamin Stambouli set to join Paris St Germain, and Aaron Lennon available to the highest bidder, Spurs are set to lose two midfielders in the next few weeks, and as a result, Pochettino is keen to keep Dembele in his squad.

The pair discussed their position over the weekend, and with two years of his current contract remaining, Dembele is expecting to start the new campaign with Spurs.

That will force Sunderland to look elsewhere, with Advocaat having talked through his plans in a face-to-face meeting with Black Cats owner Ellis Short yesterday.

Short , who was an interested observer at Sunderland’s morning training session in Canada, has already agreed to the purchase of Sebastian Coates, Adam Matthews, Jeremain Lens and Younes Kaboul this summer, so it remains to be seen how much more investment he is willing to sanction.

His outlay is likely to be at least partially dependent on the number of outgoings this summer, although Sunderland are yet to receive a formal offer for any of their senior players.

Sunderland play the final game of their North American tour against Canadian side Toronto FC in the early hours of Thursday morning, and Advocaat is hoping to see another improved performance from Jack Rodwell.

The former England international scored Sunderland’s goal in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Mexican side Club Pachuca, and Advocaat feels his pre-season displays have hinted at a major step forward from last season.

“He could have scored two or three (against Pachuca), and in the first 15 minutes, it was the way I know Jack from Everton,” said Advocaat. “That has to continue and improve. But I can see the difference in him.”