Armando Bella-Kotchap looks set to leave Southampton before the end of the transfer window, after reports emerged from Germany that he has agreed a deal verbally with Borussia Dortmund.

According to insidefutbol.com who are citing Sky Sports Deutschland as their source, Southampton defender Armando Bella-Kotchap has verbally agreed to join Borussia Dortmund and wants the transfer to happen

That is fine but so far there has been no agreement between the two clubs and Borussia Dortmund must now try to come to a deal that both are satisfied with.

The main sticking point seems to be whether the transfer is a permanent one, or if it is a loan.

Dortmund would prefer an initial loan with an option to buy, but Southampton would seemingly prefer a straight transfer.

Saints showed have shown throughout the summer that they are prepared to stand firm on players who want to leave and they won't be browbeaten into selling cheaply, they also perhaps made a point to the player that if Borussia Dortmund or indeed any other interested club want to sign him then they need to meet Saints demands, if not Russell Martin will expect the player to be part of his squad, as was shown on Saturday when he was named on the bench, but was not brought on when another central defender in Jack Stephens went off injured.

Bella-Kotchap has cited that he wants to play at a level that will get him back into the German National squad, however neither Dortmund or for that matter Bayern Munich, also said to be interested, seem to want him as anything other than back up.

With just 48 hours left of the transfer window left at time of writing , Borussia Dortmund need to get round the negotiating table fast and more to the point they need to be talking the same figures as Southampton, otherwise both Dortmund & Armando Bella-Kotchap could well be disappoined come 11pm on Friday

Photo: Action Images

Frank_Xerox added 23:13 - Aug 30 He seems keen to step off the stepping stone. Can't wait to read his heartfelt "classy message to the fans."
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WestSussexSaint added 05:40 - Aug 31 I’m sure the transfer rules are that the buying club has the approach the selling club with an offer for a player. Once the selling club accepts that offer then the buying club has permission to discuss and agree terms with the player. The ABK situation above is just another example of the process being turned on it’s head and player’s agreeing terms before the clubs have. It used to be that some clubs were called out for breaking the rules. Think VVD to Liverpool. Problem was that the punishment for Liverpool courting Virgil was just a slap on the wrist and having to make an apology. It hardly merited the complaint paperwork in the first place. Time to rethink the transfer rules to either reset them back to what was intended or reflect what is now common accepted practice.

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highfield49 added 09:30 - Aug 31 Clearly a player with a lot of potential but ABK has proved to be another defensive signing who has been a drain on resources, in the sense that he's been paid not to play too frequently. However, despite his injury absences, opinion suggests that his transfer value has possibly doubled so at least we're probably not looking at another financial loss. If, as suggested, he wants to return to the German league then he may as well go if the deal is good for SFC. Let's be honest he might as well sit on another team's bench or treatment table as sulk around the training ground here.

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