Agent: 'Ryan Babel valuation is unrealistic'

Ryan Babel's agent believes that Hoffenheim will struggle to sell the Dutch forward for their £5.6m asking price.

The 25-year-old, who joined the Bundesliga outfit from Liverpool during the January transfer window in 2011, has just one year left on his contract at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena.

Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be interested in signing Babel, but Winnie Haatrecht, the Dutchman's agent, believes that his asking price is unrealistic.

"It won't be easy to get a transfer, because Hoffenheim don't want a loan period for him," Haatrecht told De Telegraaf. "They want €6.5m for him.

"Hoffenheim paid Liverpool €6.9m plus a few bonuses, so how realistic is it to ask €6.5m for a player with a one-year contract?

"Of course, his transfer from Liverpool to Germany didn't work out how he expected it, but it's not easy when you have to work with three different coaches in less than one year."

Babel scored five goals in 31 games for Hoffenheim last season.