Kevin Wimmer is being lined up for a return to the Bundesliga, with Borussia Dortmund and Wolfsburg monitoring his progress.

The Austria defender has had limited playing time at Tottenham this season, making only five appearances, but he retains admirers in Germany.

Standard Sport understands Southampton are also following Wimmer, with their centre-back Virgil van Dijk interesting Chelsea and Manchester City.

Wimmer, 24, is Spurs’ fourth-choice centre-back, behind Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Eric Dier.

He has been used by manager Mauricio Pochettino in some important matches this year, such as the 1-1 draw at Arsenal when he scored an own goal and the 2-1 defeat at Chelsea in November, but he will find it difficult to play regularly unless there are injuries.

Tottenham may be reluctant to lose players in January, especially because they are involved in the Europa League, but German sides are keeping an eye on Wimmer and it seems highly likely they will move in the summer.

In 16 Bundesliga matches this term, Dortmund have struggled to find the perfect defensive combination, with injuries and changes of system affecting their squad.

Aerial photographs of Tottenham's new stadium 21 show all Aerial photographs of Tottenham's new stadium 1/21 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 2/21 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 3/21 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 4/21 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 5/21 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 6/21 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 7/21 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 8/21 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 9/21 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 10/21 Tottenham Hotspur Football Club of ongoing construction work at their new stadium next to White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur Football Club/PA 11/21 Tottenham Hotspur Football Club of ongoing construction work at their new stadium next to White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur Football Club/PA 12/21 Tottenham Hotspur Football Club of ongoing construction work at their new stadium next to White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur Football Club/PA 13/21 Tottenham Hotspur Football Club of ongoing construction work at their new stadium next to White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 14/21 Aerial view of building work on the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium at White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 15/21 Aerial view of building work on the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium at White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 16/21 Aerial view of building work on the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium at White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 17/21 Aerial view of building work on the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium at White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 18/21 Aerial view of building work on the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium at White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 19/21 Aerial view of building work on the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium at White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 20/21 Aerial view of building work on the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium at White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 21/21 Aerial view of building work on the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium at White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 1/21 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 2/21 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 3/21 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 4/21 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 5/21 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 6/21 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 7/21 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 8/21 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 9/21 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 10/21 Tottenham Hotspur Football Club of ongoing construction work at their new stadium next to White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur Football Club/PA 11/21 Tottenham Hotspur Football Club of ongoing construction work at their new stadium next to White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur Football Club/PA 12/21 Tottenham Hotspur Football Club of ongoing construction work at their new stadium next to White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur Football Club/PA 13/21 Tottenham Hotspur Football Club of ongoing construction work at their new stadium next to White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 14/21 Aerial view of building work on the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium at White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 15/21 Aerial view of building work on the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium at White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 16/21 Aerial view of building work on the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium at White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 17/21 Aerial view of building work on the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium at White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 18/21 Aerial view of building work on the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium at White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 19/21 Aerial view of building work on the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium at White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 20/21 Aerial view of building work on the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium at White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 21/21 Aerial view of building work on the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium at White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I

Wolfsburg, meanwhile, have gone from Champions League quarter-finalists last April to relegation contenders in December, though two consecutive victories have propelled them to 13th in the 18-team competition.

Wimmer joined Tottenham in the summer of 2015 and had an encouraging first season. He was a competent replacement for Jan Vertonghen when the Belgian spent nearly months out of action with an ankle injury between January and April. He signed a new five-year contract with Spurs in July.

But Pochettino has not trusted Wimmer as frequently this season. The former Cologne player was left out of the squad altogether early in the campaign and although he has regained ground, he has remained a bit-part player.