AS Monaco contact Armel Bella-Kotchap – competition from RB Leipzig

Relegated with Southampton

After being relegated to Southampton FC, centre-back Armel Bella-Kotchap’s future looks likely to remain in one of the top European leagues. The 21-year-old will, according to information from “L’Equipe” courted by AS Monaco. The Ligue 1 representative observes the market for central defenders very closely – and in the process came across the German international.

The Monegasque are said to have already contacted Bella-Kotchap, who would like to continue playing at the top level and therefore wants to leave Southampton. He would have to deal with the new Monaco coach Adi Hütter. The 53-year-old Austrian was introduced as the successor to Belgian Philippe Clement after missing out on qualifying for the European Cup, and the ex-Bundesliga coach received a two-year contract. Meanwhile, Bella-Kotchap, who was signed by VfL Bochum for 11 million euros in 2022, is tied to his current employer for another year.

Bella-Kotchap clearly ahead: the most expensive departures from VfL Bochum

Vahid Hashemian | 2004/05 for €2 million to FC Bayern

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Status: July 2023

Stanislav Sestak | 2011/12 for €2.2 million to Ankaragücü

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Tomasz Waldoch | 1999/00 for €2.5 million to FC Schalke

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Thomas Christiansen | 2003/04 for €2.5m to Hannover 96

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Dariusz Wosz | 1998/99 for €2.6 million to Hertha BSC

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Michael Gregoritsch | 2015/16 for €3m to Hamburger SV

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Simon Terodde | 2016/17 for €3 million to VfB Stuttgart

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Yildiray Bastürk | 2001/02 for €3.25m to Bayer Leverkusen

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Leon Goretzka | 2013/14 for €3.25 million to FC Schalke

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Maxim Leitsch | 2022/23 for €3.5 million to Mainz 05

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Paul Freer | 2004/05 for €3.5m to Bayer Leverkusen

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Theofanis Gekas | 2007/08 for €4.7m to Bayer Leverkusen

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According to the French sports daily, AS Monaco is up against well-known competition from the Bundesliga when it comes to wooing the Paris-born professional: RB Leipzig is also showing interest. The Saxons are looking for reinforcements for the defense – probably because Josko Gvardiol (21) could be drawn to Manchester City. The Croatian had recently submitted his wish to change, and negotiations are underway. “Sky” had already reported in May that Bella-Kotchap had come into focus at RB.

The defender, who was also linked with Eintracht Frankfurt in the spring and made 26 appearances in 2022/23, is not available for free despite being relegated to the “Saints”. According to the “Bild”, the Bochum home-grown plant would cost 20 million euros in line with the market value. Relegated from the Premier League are provided with a financial “parachute” due to the significantly lower TV income in the House of Commons. As a rule, there is only a risk of financial problems if promotion does not succeed for two years in a row and the squad costs are not adjusted accordingly. These payments could even be increased (further background).

Szoboszlai, Bellingham & Co.: The top transfers in summer 2023

Ilkay Gundogan | Man City -> FC Barcelona | Market value: €20 million

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free transfer
(as of July 5, 2023)

Jefferson Lerma | Bournemouth -> Crystal Palace | Market value: €20 million

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free transfer

Raphael Guerreiro | BVB -> Bayern Munich | Market value: €20 million

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free transfer

Ramy Bensebaini | Gladbach -> BVB | Market value: €20 million

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free transfer

Ludovic Blas | Nantes -> Rennes | Market value: €20 million

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Transfer fee: €15 million

Nicolas Seiwald RB Salzburg -> RB Leipzig | Transfer fee: €20 million

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Market value: €20 million

Bart Verbruggen | Anderlecht -> Brighton | Transfer fee: €20 million

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Market value: €10 million

Andrea Pinamonti | Inter -> US Sassuolo | Transfer fee: €20 million

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Market value: €15 million (obligatory purchase)

Guglielmo Vicario | Empoli -> Tottenham | Transfer fee: €20 million

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Market value: €16 million

Terem Moffi | FC Lorient -> OGC Nice | Transfer fee: €22.5 million

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Market value: €20 million (obligatory purchase)

Kalidou Koulibaly | Chelsea -> Al Hilal SFC | Transfer fee: €23 million

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Market value: €15 million

Christoph Baumgartner Hoffenheim -> RB Leipzig | Transfer fee: €24 million

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Market value: €24 million

Benjamin Sesko | RB Salzburg -> RB Leipzig | Transfer fee: €24 million

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Market value: €24 million

Karim Benzema | Real Madrid -> Al Ittihad Club | Market value: €25 million

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free transfer

Youri Tielemans | Leicester -> Aston Villa | Market value: €25 million

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free transfer

Alejandro Grimaldo | Benfica -> Leverkusen | Market value: €25 million

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free transfer

Marcelo Brozovic | Inter -> Al-Nassr | Market value: €25 million

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Transfer fee: €18 million

Antoine Griezmann | Barça -> Atlético | Market value: €25 million

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Transfer fee: €20 million

Kevin Shame | SC Freiburg -> FC Brentford | Transfer fee: €25 million

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Market value: €25 million (obligatory purchase)

Hamed Junior Traorè | Sassuolo -> Bournemouth | Transfer fee: €25.6 million

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Market value: €22 million

Nathan Collins | Wolves -> Brentford | Transfer fee: €26.85 million

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Market value: €22 million

Konrad Laimer | RB Leipzig -> FC Bayern | Market value: €28 million

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free transfer

Evan Ndicka | Eintracht Frankfurt -> AS Roma | Market value: €28 million

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free transfer

Felix Nmecha | Wolfsburg -> BVB | Transfer fee: €30 million

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Market value: €15 million

Manuel Locatelli | US Sassuolo -> Juventus | Transfer fee: €30 million

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Market value: €30 million (obligatory purchase)

Moise Kean | Everton -> Juventus | Transfer fee: €30 million

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Market value: €18 million (obligatory purchase)

Marcus Thuram | Gladbach -> Inter | Market value: €32 million

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free transfer

João Pedro | Watford FC -> Brighton & Hove Albion | Transfer fee: €34.2 million

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Market value: €32 million

Orkun Kokcu | Feyenoord -> Benfica | Market value: €35 million

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Transfer fee: €25 million

Giacomo Raspadori | Sassuolo -> Napoli | Market value: €35 million

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Transfer fee: €26 million

Nicholas Jackson | Villarreal -> Chelsea | Transfer fee: €37 million

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Market value: €30 million

Mateo Kovacic | Chelsea -> Man City | Market value: €38 million

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Transfer fee: €29.1 million

Lionel Messi | PSG -> Miami | Market value: €45 million

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free transfer

Pedro Porro | Sporting -> Tottenham | Transfer fee: €45 million

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Market value: €40 million (obligatory purchase)

Dejan Kulusevski | Juventus -> Tottenham | Market value: €50 million

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Transfer fee: €30 million (purchase option)

Ruben Neves | Wolves -> Al-Hilal | Transfer fee: €55 million

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Market value: €40 million

James Maddison | Leicester -> Tottenham | Market value: €60 million

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Transfer fee: €46.3 million

Sandro Tonali | AC Milan -> Newcastle | Transfer fee: €64 million

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Market value: €50 million

Mason Mount | Chelsea -> Man United | Transfer fee: €64.2 million

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Market value: €60 million

Alexis Mac Allister | Brighton->Liverpool | Market value: €65 million

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Transfer fee: €42 million

Dominik Szoboszlai | Leipzig -> Liverpool | Transfer fee: €70 million

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Market value: €55 million

Kai Havertz | Chelsea -> Arsenal | Transfer fee: €70 million

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Market value: €55 million

Christopher Nkunku | RB Leipzig -> Chelsea | Market value: €80 million

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Transfer fee: €60 million

Jew Bellingham | BVB -> Real Madrid | Market value: €120 million

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Transfer fee: €103 million

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