Tottenham Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Matthias Ginter and Thomas Lemar

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly the "hottest" candidates to sign Borussia Dortmund defender Matthias Ginter amid speculation the Black and Yellows are ready to cut ties. Elsewhere, AS Monaco have issued a hands-off warning on Spurs target Thomas Lemar.

German newspaper Bild reported new Dortmund manager Peter Bosz is "planning for life without Ginter," who is said to be seeking UEFA Champions League football ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup (h/t Sport Witness):

That gives the north Londoners a clear advantage over the centre-back's other major suitors, Borussia Monchengladbach, who finished ninth in the Bundesliga last season while Spurs shot to second in the Premier League.

Football writer Lars Pollmann suggested earlier this month that Ginter could be one of the Dortmund stars deemed surplus to requirements this summer, with the player said to be valued at around €18 million (£15.6 million):

Dortmund have already signed Turkey international Omer Toprak from Bayer Leverkusen this summer, and he looks set to start alongside veteran Sokratis to form a new partnership in central defence.

There's no guarantee Ginter will find opportunities any easier to come by in north London, however, with Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld the preferred choices for Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, along with Eric Dier.

If Pochettino had any interest in following the lead of Premier League champions Chelsea and adapting a three or five-man defence, however, the Germany international could become a valued commodity for the club.

Meanwhile, The Independent (h/t The Sun's Warren Haughton) reported Monaco have warned Tottenham and north London rivals Arsenal off making a move to sign winger Lemar after the latter recently saw a £31 million bid for his services rejected.

Although Arsenal were linked as the closer of the pair, Spurs might have held out hope for signing one of the stars who aided Monaco's run to the 2016-17 Ligue 1 crown, as evidenced by Squawka:

Pochettino boasts a glittering array of attacking midfield talent in Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela, but Heung-Min Son strikes as the only elite, natural wide option, something the boss may desire more of in his side.

In any case, Monaco seem adamant to prevent losing the bulk of their stars following a terrific 2016-17 campaign, meaning Spurs may need to divert their interest elsewhere in a bid to land a star of his specifications.