It is claimed that Kehl was in London for a meeting last week, but it is unclear whether that was related to the Tottenham job.
Spurs have not commented on their search for a sporting director with the process described as “ongoing”. Johan Lange still remains in post and could work with the new recruit if he survives the club’s crisis this season.
Lange is already under scrutiny from Spurs fans and his position could come under threat if the club are forced to make another managerial change or do not escape relegation danger.
Some sources claim that Spurs want to make two new appointments for their football department, but there had been a plan until recently for Lange to continue working on the data-side of the club’s recruitment.
At Dortmund, Kehl was responsible for the signings of Nico Schlotterbeck, Serhou Guirassy, Felix Nmecha, Karim Adeyemi and Jobe Bellingham.
His departure from the club was announced by Dortmund managing director Lars Ricken, who said: “The summer is the right time for a change. To allow both sides to prepare, we mutually agreed to an immediate termination of Sebastian’s contract.
“Sebastian and I also share a long history. We not only played together for Borussia Dortmund, but we also won the German championship together in 2002. Sebastian has made enormous contributions to our club.”
Kehl, a former Dortmund captain who led his side to back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012, said it “has been a part of my life for half my life, and I have an extremely strong connection to this great club … Dortmund, the incredible stadium, and the Südtribüne [south stand] will always hold a special place in my heart. It has been an honour.”