Stuttgart coach Markus Babbel believes that his top players are being monitored by Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, among other Premier League clubs.

The Roten are steadily slipping in the Bundesliga, and are in 15th place after failing to register a win from their last nine games in all competitions.

Babbel believes that the pressure has only increased as his stars have become transfer targets for England’s bigger clubs.

“Even for us, in the German league it isn’t easy to hold on to our star players,” he told the News of the World.

“I know for sure every week we play, Manchester United, Tottenham and other English clubs are watching our games.

“So many English teams are turning up at our games every week now, watching our players.

“So it’s not easy to hold on to the best players any more. Even at a big Bundesliga club like this.”

The former Liverpool defender added: “Of course, our players can earn good money here and are well rewarded.

“But if they go to the Premiership, Spanish league [Primera Division] or Italian league [Serie A] they realise they will make much more money than in the Bundesliga.

“It’s not easy to build a fantastic team and hold it together in these circumstances.”

Source – Adithya Ananth, Goal.com UK