Allnigeriasoccer.com can confirm that Basel's Nigerian forward Philip Otele is attracting interest from at least two English clubs ahead of the reopening of the January transfer window.

Give Me Sport transfer reporter Ben Jacobs first reported that Birmingham City are considering an ambitious move for Otele, but they face competition from Premier League side Crystal Palace.

The Basel number 7 was heavily linked with a move to Fulham during the summer transfer window, but the deal failed to materialise as the Cottagers eventually prioritised the signings of Samuel Chukwueze from AC Milan and Kevin from Shakhtar Donetsk.

Should Otele leave Basel this winter, the buying club would need to meet the Swiss champions’ demands, with the winger under contract until 2028 and valued at eight to ten million euros.

With 8 goals and 3 assists in 26 all-competition appearances, Otele prides himself on being the Nigerian winger with the most goal involvements among players in the top fifteen leagues. 

His figures are particularly impressive given Basel's attacking struggles since early November, scoring just three goals in their last five Super League matches.

Meanwhile, allnigeriasoccer.com can report with certainty that Otele is all but ruled out of Nigeria's final squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, despite being named in the 54-man provisional roster. 

Super Eagles manager Eric Chelle has made it clear that he first needs to observe Otele in a friendly before considering him for a competitive fixture.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel