Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Friendly Games
Nigeria

Transfer rumours: Dier to Celtic, Martinez to Bayern, Bella-Kotchap to Dortmund

sportsmole.co.uk, 16 August 2023, 15:45
Celtic are reportedly one of several teams interested in a move for Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier.

After losing his place in the Lilywhites' starting lineup towards the end of last season, the Englishman was not even in the squad for Saturday's draw with Brentford in their Premier League opener.

Head coach Ange Postecoglou has insisted that Dier remains a part of his plans, but he is seemingly behind all of Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Davinson Sanchez and Ben Davies in the pecking order.

According to 90min - via the Daily Record - Celtic, who previously took another centre-back in Cameron Carter-Vickers off of Tottenham's hands last year, are now lining up an approach for Dier.

However, Al-Nassr, Monaco and Crystal Palace are also thought to be keen on the 29-year-old, as are Sporting Lisbon, whom Dier represented for 11 years between 2003 and 2014.

Dier only has one year left to run on his contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and he will likely be allowed to leave for free in 2024 if he is not sold in the coming weeks.

Sticking with the theme of Premier League outgoings, Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez is believed to be on the radar of German champions Bayern Munich.

The World Cup-winning goalkeeper has been a key figure in the Villa Park backline since leaving Arsenal in 2020, keeping 39 clean sheets in 113 matches in all tournaments.

Martinez's Villa breakthrough has seen him cement his place as Argentina's number one, although he shipped five to Newcastle United in last weekend's crushing Premier League defeat.

The 30-year-old's efforts helped Villa achieve Europa Conference League football last season, but he has been persistently linked with an exit to a Champions League-competing club amid previous interest from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

According to TyC Sports, Bayern could now turn their attention to Martinez after losing out to Real Madrid in the race for Chelsea shot-stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Bayern number one Manuel Neuer is still recovering from a broken leg, while Yann Sommer has left for Inter Milan, but the Bundesliga champions could be forced to make Martinez the most expensive goalkeeper of all time to bring him to Bavaria.

Elsewhere in Germany, Borussia Dortmund are not expected to sign Southampton centre-back Armel Bella-Kotchap this summer.

The 21-year-old is being tipped to leave the Saints following their relegation from the Premier League and had supposedly caught the eye of Edin Terzic.

According to Sky Deutschland, contact was made with Bella-Kotchap's camp, but Dortmund are refusing to meet Southampton's €20m (£17.1m) asking price.

The Saints are under no pressure to let the German leave, as his contract runs until 2026, and a move to the Westfalenstadion is now rated as "highly unlikely".

Bella-Kotchap joined Southampton from Bochum for €11m (£9.4m) last year and set up two goals in 26 games for the Saints during his debut season, starting 24 Premier League games.

However, the Germany international is yet to play for Southampton this term due to a hamstring injury, and he would be behind Mats Hummels and Nico Schlotterbeck in the defensive pecking order at Dortmund.

Finally, Monaco have reportedly reached a full agreement with Torino over a deal for Ivorian right-back Wilfried Singo.

The 22-year-old has risen through the Toro youth academy to make 109 appearances for the senior team in all competitions, scoring seven goals and setting up 10 more.

Singo has excelled as a wing-back in Torino's system and kept up his strong form in the 2022-23 season, registering two goals and three assists in 35 appearances.

However, the defender is now in the final 12 months of his contract, and according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Monaco have struck a deal to sign him for €10m (£8.6m).

Singo will soon undergo his medical after putting pen to paper on personal terms, and he is snubbing interest from Atalanta BC to join the Ligue 1 club.

Monaco currently have Vanderson and Ruben Aguilar battling for the right-back spot, but Axel Disasi - who would sometimes fill in as a full-back - has departed for Chelsea.

Top News

12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With their hopes of stealing the league crown hanging by a thread, Rangers will welcome an out-of-form Dundee side to Ibrox in their penultimate game of the Scottish Premiership season. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich are reportedly interested in signing Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton this summer. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Donny van de Beek's agent Guido Albers has confirmed that his client will be leaving Manchester United during this summer's transfer window, but a move to another Premier League club is not an option. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni is confident that he will be fit for the Champions League final. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Xavi refused to offer any guarantees over the future of Ansu Fati when questioned on the Spain international during his press conference on Sunday. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk For the final time in a Liverpool tracksuit, Jurgen Klopp will be barking orders from a rival Premier League touchline on Monday, when the Reds trek to the West Midlands to scrap with Aston Villa at Villa Park. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Feyenoord manager and incoming Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has provided an update on when Reds fans can expect an official announcement of his arrival at Anfield. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has insisted that his side have demonstrated their character on numerous occasions during a difficult season for the club. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool forward Luis Diaz has said that he is "very happy" at Anfield amid suggestions of a potential summer departure for the Colombia international. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The agent of Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski has insisted that the Poland international will remain at Camp Nou this summer, branding the speculation surrounding his future "fake news". 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are back in action on Wednesday evening when they square off against Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will again make changes to his starting side for Tuesday's La Liga clash with Alaves at Bernabeu. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be aiming to record a ninth straight victory in La Liga when they continue their domestic campaign at home to an in-form Alaves outfit on Tuesday night. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has praised his side for 'playing a different kind of football' to overcome Nottingham Forest. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be bidding to make it nine La Liga wins in a row when they welcome Alaves to Bernabeu on Tuesday night. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling has moved into the top 20 of the all-time Premier League top goalscorers list. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Girona's battle to secure second position in the La Liga table will continue on Tuesday evening, when they welcome European-chasing Villarreal to Estadi Montilivi. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Mallorca will be bidding to make it back-to-back victories in Spain's top flight when they head to Estadio El Sadar on Tuesday evening to face Osasuna. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly planning to make another move for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong during this summer's transfer window. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly been priced out of a summer move for Mason Greenwood, with Manchester United demanding €60m (£51. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United would reportedly have to pay out £10m to Erik ten Hag and his backroom staff if they decide to sack the Dutchman as manager before the end of the 2023-24 campaign. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United would reportedly have to pay out £10m to Erik ten Hag and his backroom staff if they decide to sack the Dutchman as manager before the end of the 2023-24 campaign. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Hoping that Tottenham Hotspur will be in no mood to do North London rivals Arsenal any sort of favours, Manchester City head to the capital to face Ange Postecoglou's side on Tuesday in the Premier League. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Still in with a shot of Champions League qualification, Tottenham Hotspur face their toughest remaining Premier League test at home to champions Manchester City on Tuesday night. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fenerbahce vs. Kayserispor (Sunday, 5.00pm) Fenerbahce will be hoping to return to winning ways when they host Kayserispor at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on Sunday evening in the Turkish Super Lig. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ajax vs. Almere City (Sunday, 1.30pm) Ajax play host to Almere City on Sunday afternoon looking for the win that may be enough to secure fifth position in the Eredivisie standings. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk PSG vs. Toulouse (Sunday, 8.00pm) Mourning their dreams of Champions League supremacy, Paris Saint-Germain continue their canter towards the Ligue 1 finish line when Toulouse arrive at the Parc des Princes on Sunday. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Darmstadt vs. Hoffenheim (Sunday, 2.30pm) Relegated SV Darmstadt 98 aim to scupper Hoffenheim's European bid when they host Pellegrino Matarazzo's men in gameweek 33's action in the Bundesliga on Sunday. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lazio vs. Empoli (Sunday, 11.30am) Still in contention for an unlikely place in next season's Champions League, Lazio seek maximum points when they host relegation-threatened Empoli on Sunday.