Liverpool have been linked with a move for Southampton star Armel Bella-Kotchap and the growing admiration from Anfield should not come as a surprise, according to transfer insider Dean Jones. Darwin Nunez became the Merseyside giants’ most expensive acquisition when he made the £85million switch from Benfica in the summer, but boss Jurgen Klopp is already looking at potential reinforcements ahead of the winter window.
According to Spanish sources, Liverpool are monitoring Bella-Kotchap’s progression at Southampton and the centre-half is being seen as a potential long-term replacement for Virgil van Dijk.
The report suggests Klopp – who has been in the Anfield dugout for close to seven years – is an admirer, but he is facing competition from Real Madrid and Bayern Munich for his signature.
Bella-Kotchap only moved to the Premier League for the first time in his career when he joined Southampton in a £10million deal from German side VfL Bochum during the summer transfer window.