Tottenham Hotspur will do battle with Southampton for the signature of Sven Bender, it is being reported.

The Daily Mail claim Spurs, along with the south coast club, are interested in the Borussia Dortmund midfielder who has been at the heart of the Germans’ midfield for six years.

New Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel will assess his squad when he arrives in July, but with Die Borussen finishing just seventh in the Bundesliga last season, there is no longer the draw of Champions League football.

And Spurs want to capitalise on that by attracting the 26-year-old to White Hart Lane.

The Saints will offer competition, particularly if Frenchman Morgan Schneiderlin moves on, but Mauricio Pochettino’s side could be the more attractive offer given their London location.

It is rumoured that Dortmund would value the midfielder, who has seven Germany caps, at around £20 million