Derby County has initiated discussions to sign 27-year-old Nigerian winger Philip Otele from FC Basel, but there is competition from Birmingham City, who are also in the Championship, as well as from Lecce and Frosinone. The player's future is not certain after Hamburg decided against signing him on a permanent basis following a loan spell. Otele is expected to leave Basel this summer.
The Swiss club is prepared to approve a sale and is reportedly asking for a fee of approximately €5m (£4.3m). The player, who is a five-cap Nigeria international, has a contract with Basel that runs until 2028, and his current market value is estimated by Transfermarkt to be €4.00m. The reported asking price is consistent with a purchase option, valued between €4.5 million and €5 million, which Hamburger SV did not exercise in August 2026.
