SAINTS defender Armel Bella-Kotchap will reportedly be allowed to leave the club this summer due to a £25million release clause.

The 21 year old German international is a transfer target for Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig, who could be about to land a mega-millions sale of their own centre-back Josko Gvardiol.

Bella-Kotchap has only spent one season on the south coast following a move from VFL Bochum last summer but he impressed in 24 Premier League appearances.

The youngster spent a lot of the campaign in the treatment room with a dislocated shoulder and separate knee injury throughout the term.

The Telegraph report that Bella-Kotchap’s relegation release clause, which is now activated following the club’s demotion to the Championship, is priced at £25million.

That fee would be a return of almost 300 per cent on their initial investment after outlaying around £9million to acquire him from VFL Bochum in his home nation.

Bella-Kotchap was awarded his full senior Germany debut against England at Wembley Stadium in September and he avoided surgery on his shoulder to ensure availability for the 2022 World Cup.

Saints have centre-backs Jan Bednarek, Jack Stephens, Duje Caleta-Car, Lyanco and Mohammed Salisu already on the books, while they are linked to Swansea City’s Nathan Wood and Ben Cabango.

Bella-Kotchap is just one talented player whose future at Saints is uncertain, with Romeo Lavia, James Ward-Prowse, Tino Livramento, Kyle Walker-Peters and more attracting interest.

Bella-Kotchap made 26 total appearances last season for Saints, including one in both the FA Cup and EFL Cup – in which Saints reached the two-legged semi-final.