Bayern Munich will not be signing defender Armel Bella-Kotchap from Southampton today as the German transfer deadline has now passed.
That’s according to journalist Florian Plettenberg, who says the centre-back ‘won’t join’ the German champions despite a late push to get a deal over the line.
Reports throughout today have stated that Bayern were pushing for a late deal for Bella-Kotchap, finally striking a loan deal with Southampton after weeks of speculation.
A deal needed to be wrapped up quickly as Germany’s transfer deadline, unlike the one in England, was due to close at 6pm local time.
It seems the matter was not closed in time, though, with Plettenberg reporting that the ‘deal is off’ and Bella-Kotchap won’t be making the switch.
The reason for this isn’t made clear, unlike in the matter of Joao Palhinha, where it was very much Fulham not providing the green light that saw that one fall by the wayside.
We’re sure those details will come out in due course but for now, at least, Bella-Kotchap won’t be joining Bayern and remaining at Southampton.
