Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly emerged as a potential destination for VfL Bochum’s defensive prospect Armel Bella-Kotchap.
According to Calciomercato, Tottenham Hotspur have set their sights on Armel Bella-Kotchap. The Lilywhites are keen on adding defensive reinforcements in the summer transfer window, with Antonio Conte keen on mending his team’s inconsistencies at the back.
While the lack of a proven leader has been apparent, Tottenham are mainly looking ahead towards the future. It has seen sporting director Fabio Paratici target younger centre-backs, with Bella-Kotchap emerging as one of the options.
Formerly of Rot Weiss Ahlen, the same club that helped a certain Marco Reus showcase his skills at the professional level, Bella-Kotchap is seen as one of the most gifted defensive talents in Germany. The youngster rose to prominence during the 2020/21 campaign, as he starred in Bochum’s promotion-winning campaign in Zweite Bundesliga.
Upon their promotion, the 20-year-old was expected to evolve into one of the finest young defensive talents in Europe. But Bella-Kotchap endured a rather difficult start to the campaign, often failing to establish himself at the heart of the Bochum defence. He even fell behind Maxim Leitsch and Erhan Masovic in the pecking order at one point.
Bella-Kotchap, though, has recovered well and has been in fine form since the turn of the year. His performances have not gone unnoticed either, with Tottenham Hotspur keeping close tabs on his development.
It appears the north London giants are weighing up a potential move in the summer, as they look to add more competition for the likes of Cristian Romero and Eric Dier. Not to mention, Spurs could be in for an overhaul in the defensive unit, with Joe Rodon among the players expected to pack his bags.
There are uncertainties over the future of Japhet Tanganga and Davinson Sanchez as well, which could compel Spurs to make a move for Bella-Kotchap. At the age of just 20, the youngster has shown immense potential and has been performing rather well in one of the toughest leagues in Europe, especially for a defender.
Bella-Kotchap could thus be a smart long-term investment for Tottenham, although Antonio Conte certainly has no shortage of alternatives, also showing an interest in Inter Milan star Milan Skriniar. It will be interesting to see if Spurs can pull off both the signings, which could go a long way in reshaping their defensive unit ahead of the new season.
