BUNDESLIGA side Frankfurt are reportedly looking to bring Saints defender Armel Bella-Kotchap back to the Bundesliga with a valuation of around £17.5million named.

The 21 year old German international has been ruled out of the rest of the season through a hamstring injury picked up at Nottingham Forest this week.

Bella-Kotchap moved to thank supporters at the end of his debut season at St Mary’s, in which he made 23 Premier League appearances and made the World Cup squad for his country.

However, the club face imminent relegation with an eight-point gap between themselves and safety with only three matches left to play.

Bella-Kotchap is one of a number of both young and experienced players who face uncertain futures with interest likely among top-level clubs.

German publication Bild report that Frankfurt, who reached the round of 16 in this season’s Champions League after beating Rangers in the Europa League final last May, are interested.

They report that a valuation of 20 million Euros would likely need to be met for the release of the youngster, with Saints keen to keep the German.

Frankfurt sit ninth in the Bundesliga this campaign and would need a miracle in their final three games to qualify for European competition.

However, they are set to face Ralph Hasenhuttl’s former side, RB Leipzig, in the DFP Pokal Cup final in Berlin at the beginning of June.