Borussia Dortmund join the race to sign Nigerian defender Calvin Bassey from Glasgow Rangers

BUNDESLIGA giants Borussia Dortmund have joined in the race for Super Eagles defensive sensation Calvin Bassey with the German side looking to take him to the Signal Iduna Park during the summer transfer window.

Bassey, 22, was a sensation at Glasgow Rangers last season after joining from Leicester City, impressing both at left-back and centre-half. His good form has made him a Nigerian international and several English Premier League clubs including Aston Villa and West Ham are also looking to sign the defender.

Now, Dortmund appeared to have joined the quest for Bassey's signature after tamely to bitter rivals Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga race last season. Dortmund finished second in the league, eight points behind champions Bayern Munich, with their poor defence being the main cause of their failings.

Dortmund conceded an astonishing 52 goals in 34 matches, the worst defensive record of any side in the top eight. Bassey is seen as part of the rebuilding programme that has already started with Dortmund already welcoming Nico Schlotterbeck and Niklas Süle to replace the departing Marin Pongracic and Dan-Axel Zagadou.

With Matts Hummels irreplaceable and Manuel Akanji eyeing a move to the Premier League, there is room for one more defensive reinforcements. Football journalist Lahcen Senhaji reports that Dortmund are keen on Bassey after his recent winning the man-of-the-match awards in the finals of the Europa League and the Scottish Cup.

Able to play as a centre-back, wing-back and left full-back, Bassey is already the subject of a £3.5m bid from Fulham and is on the radar of Bayern Munich and Chelsea too. It could, however, take a transfer fee closer to £15m to convince Rangers to part with an asset they got for next to nothing from Leicester City two years ago.