Brentford set to battle trio of Premier League rivals in transfer fight for £17m star

Brentford are eyeing up a young German defender with several other Premier League clubs said to also be in the race for his signature ahead of the January transfer window

Brentford are reportedly looking to land Borussia Dortmund defender Almugera Kabar. The 21-year-old has struggled to make an impression in the Bundesliga this season.

It now appears he does not feature in Dortmund manager Niko Kovac’s plans. Kabar is now said to looking for a loan move, with Brentford having their eye on the star for a January move, alongside a trio of unnamed Premier League clubs.

According to German outlet Ruhr Nachrichten, Kabar has submitted a written transfer request to Dortmund officials. The Bees are reportedly prepared to pay around £17million to secure the defender, reports in Germany state, although it’s believed only a loan move will be sanctioned.

Kabar has had limited playing time under Kovac this season. He has failed to make a single appearance for Dortmund’s first team and has only featured three times for Dortmund’s reserves. His struggles come as something of a shock.

He joined the Dortmund academy at the age of 13 and has made his way through the ranks. The left-back was part of the Germany U-17 World Cup-winning team in 2023. He also played a part in the U-17 European Championship-winning squad that same year.

As a reward for his dominant performances, Kabar was named captain of Dortmund’s U-19 team during their UEFA Youth League campaign last season.

Kabar could well be one for the future after Brentford boss Keith Andrews was given a warning over current full-back Michael Kayode this week.

The 21-year-old Italian initially joined Brentford on loan at the start of the year before signing a five-year deal in the summer. However, his performances have caught the eye of a host of clubs already, including Arsenal, according to reports in the Italian press.

Kayode’s agent, Andrea Ritorni, has claimed that the ex-Fiorentina star has blossomed under former coach Thomas Frank and under new head coach Keith Andrews. However, he has warned that Kayode could be in line to join one of Europe’s elite sides in the near future.

“He’s doing really well and is now finding his best physical condition,” Ritorni told Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb. “He’s improving a lot with the ball and has earned the trust of both Thomas Frank and Keith Andrews.

“He’s now finding his best physical condition, and he’s ‘cleaning up’ his ball control. He arrived in January and made 12 appearances under Thomas Frank, a great coach. Under Keith Andrews, he also immediately got a lot of playing time, starting seven out of seven games.

“In the future, I can see him taking another step up to a top club. That’s not to say Brentford isn’t one — but I see him going even higher.”

However, the right-back has featured in all of Brentford’s Premier League games so far this season. Upon signing for the club on a permanent deal in the summer he suggested that he was happy at the Bees.

“I am so excited to extend my stay at Brentford,” he said. “I have felt so welcome from the first day I arrived at the club, thanks to my team-mates and the care the coaching staff have shown me.”

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