Who is Sheffield United-linked wonderkid Armel Bella-Kotchap? Everything you need to know about the German ace

Here's everything you need to know about the player:

The basics:

The 18-year-old defender plays in the German second tier for VfL Bochum, whose poor form this season has seen them

stumble into the relegation battle.

He's 6ft. 3 tall, and is a real physical presence in his side's back line. He was born in France, before moving to Germany at a young age to continue his development in various youth academies.

Who else is after him, and how much is he likely to cost?

According to reports, half of Europe. The Blades are listed among a host of top sides, including the likes of Barcelona, Spurs,

Chelsea and Manchester United.

He is said to be valued at a not at all unreasonable £6.5 million, but that figure could soon shoot up if a bidding war were to develop during the summer transfer window.

Any international caps?

At youth level, yes. He has picked up five caps for Germany's U18 side, after making his debut for them against Cyprus back in 2018.

What are his best attributes?

His standout attribute is his dynamic approach to the game and confidence with the ball on his feet - a prerequisite for any Blades defender these days.

He enjoys spraying long passes out to the wings, which again could be useful at United, who like to exploit the overlap with the likes of Enda Stevens and George Baldock in the wing-back positions.

How are his stats looking?

According to Wyscout's data, he's consistently impressive in terms of his interceptions, and is excellent in the air too - with a solid aerial dual success rate.

He's also skilled in recovering possession - doing so over 12 times on average per game this season, across both Bochum's senior and youth side.