Liverpool 'will be monitoring' £10m Premier League star at Anfield

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.

The 20-year-old has made an instant impact at St Mary’s and played every minute of his new employers’ last six Premier League fixtures.

Bella-Kotchap has been rewarded for his impressive early season form by being called up to the Germany squad for the first time, meaning he could come up against Hungary and England during the current international break.

Jones believes Bella-Kotchap has shown that he has a bright future ahead of him and, as a result, Liverpool’s interest should not come as a shock.

The journalist has tipped the German star to seal a move to a club challenging for regular silverware within the next 24 months.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “He’s certainly on a steep climb right now, called up for Germany and also linked to Liverpool.

“I