Tottenham have been dealt a summer transfer blow as it has emerged that defensive target Nico Schlotterbeck has agreed a deal to sign for Borussia Dortmund, according to reports in Germany.

Spurs are in the market for a left-sided centre back, and were thought to have drawn up a list of four targets which included Freiburg centre-back Schlotterbeck. The defender has impressed in the Bundesliga for the European hopefuls this season, helping them punch well above their weight in the German top flight.

Nico Schlotterbeck has agreed to join Borussia Dortmund. Transfer fee should be around €25m to Freiburg. #BVB #SCF https://t.co/nPjwNLFIaA

— Ronan Murphy (@swearimnotpaul) April 19, 2022

And, following the free transfer of Niklas Sule to Dortmund, which was announced earlier this season, it seems as though a 25 million euro deal for Schlotterbeck has been agreed.

Tottenham’s options continue to shrink

Of the options left on the list, Josep Gvardiol has seemingly committed his future to RB Leipzig beyond this summer, while Andrea Bastoni may prove too expensive from Antonio Conte’s former side Inter Milan.

Meanwhile, Pau Torres rejected the chance to join Tottenham last summer as he wanted to help his hometown Villareal in the Champions League, something that he has certainly achieved this season. With the Yellow Submarine currently outside of the European places for next season, could he be tempted with a move?

The fourth name on the list is Sven Botman of Lille, but he appears to be in the final stages of completing a deal that will see him join AC Milan in the summer, despite strong interest from Newcastle.

This has left Spurs seemingly with limited top-quality options to replace Ben Davies with, meaning that they will perhaps have to cast their net a little wider to find the reinforcements that Conte so regularly demands.

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