‘Decide to take action’ – Club plan ‘surprise move’ to take Southampton defender, initiate contact for summer deal

Southampton defender Armel Bella-Kotchap’s decision to join PSV Eindhoven on loan last summer hasn’t gone as per his plans. He’s clocked in 457 minutes from nine games and was forced to miss most of this season due to an injury.

That hasn’t stopped the centre-back from attracting interest from elsewhere as Galatasaray are considering a ‘surprise move’ to sign him.

That’s according to Fotomaç, who state the Istanbul club have identified the Southampton owned player as a target for the summer window.

Davinson Sánchez and Abdülkerim Bardakcı are among the centre-backs at the Turkish club, and the report states both have received offers from elsewhere. Faced with the possibility of losing one or both of them, they have identified the 22-year-old as a target.

Galatasaray have ‘decided to take action’ to sign the Germany international, who was on their agenda last summer. It’s further explained that they have started contacts with the Southampton man, who ‘welcomes interest’ shown by the Süper Lig side.

The Saints are in the Championship and Bella-Kotchap doesn’t want to return to England if Russell Martin’s side fail to return to the Premier League.

Southampton are currently fourth in the table, trailing second placed Leeds United by nine points with two games in hand.