Soccer
Philip Otele celebrates with Basel teammates after scoring a goal. (Photo by Imago)
English Premier League clubs Wolves and Bournemouth are on high alert as Swiss side Basel have reduced their valuation of Nigerian winger Philip Otele, Soccernet.ng reports.
Otele has been impressive for Basel since joining from UAE club Al Wahda in a deal worth €3 million. The 26-year-old has registered 17 goals and seven assists in 51 appearances for the reigning Swiss champions.
His performances placed him on the radar of several clubs across Europe’s top five leagues last summer.
There were even strong reports that Premier League side Fulham were seriously interested in acquiring his services during the previous summer transfer window.
However, the deal did not move forward as they could not reach an agreement with Basel, who were then asking for a fee in excess of €10 million.
This season, Otele has continued to shine for Basel, chipping in with eight goals and three assists in 30 appearances—a brilliant return for a winger.
Soccer Basel Ready to Sell Phillip Otele to Wolves, Bournemouth, Others
According to transfer expert Ben Jacobs, Phillip Otele has admirers across Europe. Clubs such as Bournemouth, Wolves, Lazio, Birmingham City, and Celtic have all been monitoring him ahead of a potential move.
Amid speculation regarding his future, Basel have reduced their asking price for the winger to €7 million.
Exclusive: Philip Otele set to leave Basel this winter.
Understand Basel have reduced their asking price and will consider offers in excess of €7m.
Birmingham City remain interested. Wolves also have Otele as one of several names on their list.
Lazio, Celtic and… pic.twitter.com/SPGEp97WSY
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) January 14, 2026
Although the Nigerian attacker still has over two years left on his contract, Basel appear willing to do business.
This approach is not new for the club, which has a long history of selling star players to Europe’s top five leagues. Former Basel standouts include the likes of Mohamed Salah, Xherdan Shaqiri, and Mohamed Elneny, among many others.
Consequently, Otele will be hoping to land a move to a major suitor soon. As it stands, no club has made a concrete offer for the Nigerian, but the situation could change rapidly before the transfer window closes at the end of January.
Kelvin Omachonu
Kelvin Omachonu is a professional football columnist and sports writer with over half a decade of experience covering major events and delivering captivating, analytically-driven stories.
A graduate of the University of Ibadan, he is fueled by a profound dedication to sports journalism and the beautiful game. His insights have previously been featured in respected outlets, including IndyPress UI, UCJ UI Newshive NG, Sportpremi, and a few others.
Away from work, Kelvin is an avid fan of basketball, enjoys a great movie, and is always discovering new music.
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