Hoffenheim defender Niklas Sule is reportedly wanted by Everton and Spurs.
Niklas Sule in action for Germany
According to German newspaper Bild, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur had scouts at Hoffenheim v Schalke, with defender Niklas Sule believed to be the target.
Sule, 21, had been on the books with hometown club Eintracht Frankfurt before a move to Darmstadt and eventually Hoffenheim in 2010.
Niklas Sule in action at the Olympic Games
Having come up through the ranks with the club, Sule is now a key player for Hoffenheim, and has made over 75 league appearances for the club.
A towering 6ft 5in centre back, Sule unsurprisingly possesses great strength and aerial ability, and his performances in Germany appear to have triggered major interest in his signature.
Everton manager Ronald Koeman
German newspaper Bild report that six clubs were present as Hoffenheim hosted Schalke on Sunday; Arsenal, Everton, Tottenham, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and Valencia, with Sule believed to be the target for all six clubs.
Everton did snap up a centre back over the summer in Ashley Williams, but he and defensive partner Phil Jagielka are 32 and 34 respectively, meaning that Ronald Koeman may want a younger defender to mould behind them – and Sule would fit the bill.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino
Meanwhile, Tottenham have one of the Premier League’s top partnerships in Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld, and Mauricio Pochettino also has Kevin Wimmer and Cameron Carter-Vickers at his disposal too. Questions have been asked about Wimmer’s long-term future with the club, whilst Carter-Vickers is just 18, and Pochettino may see Sule as a player who can bring some height to the Spurs defence.
Sule, who has one cap for Germany, is believed to be dreaming of a move to the Premier League and particularly to a Champions League club, meaning Spurs may be in a great position to beat Everton to his signature. However, with just under three years left on his deal with Hoffenheim, any team that wants to buy Sule may have to pay big money, with Chelsea believed to have had a £25m bid rejected last month.
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