According to The Sun, Manchester United have identified Armel Bella-Kotchap as a potential target. The VfL Bochum defender has emerged as one of the four German talents targeted by Ralf Rangnick, who is prepared to raid the Bundesliga in order to strengthen his squad in the upcoming January transfer window.
Armel Bella-Kotchap: What Is He All About?
Armel Bella-Kotchap is considered as one of the most talented young defenders in Germany due to his immense success at Bochum over the past few years. Since his move to the North-Rhine Westphalen in 2017, the youngster has quickly risen through the ranks in the youth levels, simultaneously representing Germany at the same level.
A centre-back by trade, Bella-Kotchap made his professional breakthrough during the backend of the 2019/20 campaign. But it was the following season where he truly made a name for himself, playing a vital role in Bochum’s promotion-winning campaign. His success instantly made him one of the most in-demand prospects in German football.
During his time at Bochum, Bella-Kotchap has made an impression with his imposing figure at the back. His physical and aerial prowess, coupled with his athleticism and pace, has made him a well-rounded centre-back, who is more than capable of offering a sense of solidity at the back.
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A Wise Option For Ralf Rangnick?
Manchester United’s pursuit of Armel Bella-Kotchap is hardly surprising as the club is desperate to beef up their options in central defence. The new coach Ralf Rangnick is particularly looking for cover for the central defensive duo of Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire, especially with both Phil Jones and Eric Bailly facing an uncertain future at Old Trafford.
The addition of Bella-Kotchap, to that end, could be a smart move by Manchester United. The youngster hasn’t had the best of starts to his life in the Bundesliga, but given his talent and sheer potential, he could become an asset for the team in the future.
At the age of just 20, the German has time on his side and isn’t likely to demand regular game-time. But given Rangnick’s tendency to offer opportunities to young players, there may not be a dearth of first-team chances either, thus making Old Trafford an ideal destination for the player as well.
Perhaps most importantly, Bella-Kotchap isn’t likely to cost a fortune as the defender is yet to prove himself in the Bundesliga. And with Bochum relying heavily on financial injection to further boost their survival campaign, they might be tempted to cash in on their star defender in January.
