Tottenham Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Niklas Sule and Robbie Keane

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly joined the race to recruit Hoffenheim defender Niklas Sule amid speculation Arsenal and Everton are also interested. Meanwhile, controversy has erupted around Robbie Keane's 2002 transfer to White Hart Lane.

German newspaper Bild (h/t Football Insider's Harvey Byrne) reported Spurs have scouts monitoring Sule's progress in the Bundesliga, adding the centre-back supposedly has a "weakness for England."

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

The 21-year-old is attracting attention after impressing in Germany's top flight, having earned his senior Hoffenheim debut in 2013 and gradually building his reputation in the Bundesliga.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has utilised Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld as his centre-backs of choice so far this season, and the club's official Twitter account noted the efficacy of that pairing so far:

However, Pochettino may demand more competition after central defender Federico Fazio joined AS Roma on loan this season, and Sule is among Europe's most promising players in that position.

There's value to be had in the Bundesliga it seems, too, after Liverpool writer Dave O'Connell highlighted the good fortune the Merseysiders have had moving for cheap assets in Germany:

Sule earned his senior Germany debut in August, and interest in the player is sure to grow as long as he maintains his current trajectory, with Chelsea also said to have had a £25 million bid for the player turned down.

The player's agent, Karlheinz Forster, also recently told Bild of the widespread interest in his client, predicting more intrigue in 2017 (h/t Goal's Russell Greaves): "Yes, there was interest. The English have made it clear they'll still be interested next year."

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Elsewhere, the Telegraph's investigation into football corruption has taken another twist after quotes emerged inciting Pino Pagliara—a key whistleblower in recent revelations—attempted to land a bung from Keane's Spurs transfer.

The Irishman joined Spurs from Leeds United in 2002 and the Sun (via the Daily Mail, h/t Sport Witness) provided quotes from then-Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale, who detailed Pagliara's part in the transfer:

"

He asked me if it were true we were going to sell Robbie Keane to Spurs for £7m and I confirmed we hoped to finalise the deal in 24 hours.

That's when Pino asked if I'd be willing for him to submit an invoice for "agent services."

I asked "Why would you submit an invoice? The negotiations were nothing to do with you!"

Pino said "But Peter, if I bill you for £600,000, we split the commission 50-50. You're the chairman, no one needs to know I wasn't involved.

I said "Pino, wrong man. I've never taken a bung and I'm now going to report this to my board."

"

Pagliara has played an important role in coming forward to the Telegraph regarding bribery in football and managers accepting bungs in exchange for services, and it seems the practice has been going on for longer than expected.

However, Pagliara later said he lied about the claims, per BBC Sport.

Sky Sports' Kaveh Solhekol also reported Pagliara was expecting a Range Rover from the Telegraph in exchange for his help in the investigation, although it's unknown if the Italian agent's wish was fulfilled.