West Ham United are plotting a raid on Southampton for the services of their defensive sensation Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
According to a report from The Sun, West Ham United will look to reinforce their defence ahead of next season, and they are interested in the services of Taylor Harwood-Bellis. The English international will push for a move away as Southampton are unlikely to survive in the top flight, and the Hammers could look to make the most out of it.
Harwood-Bellis came up the ranks at Manchester City. While he got promoted to their first team at the start of 2021, he could not become an important part of their squad and was often out on loan to ensure he gets regular minutes.
The Englishman had an impressive loan spell at Southampton during the 2023/24 season and on the back of it, he secured a permanent move to the Saints last summer. The young centre-back has been an integral part of their first team, and he has featured in 27 matches this season.
While Taylor Harwood-Bellis has been putting in some impressive performances, the Saints have not been able to get the desired results on their return to the Premier League. Southampton are rock bottom with just nine points in their 26 outings. With relegation almost a certainty, the 23-year-old will push for a move away and multiple clubs are keeping a close eye on him.
West Ham United plot a raid on the Saints
Southampton won’t really want to part ways with Taylor Harwood-Bellis, but if they fail to stay up, they might not have an option. West Ham are well aware of the situation, and they will look to make the most out of it. While the Hammers are also involved in the relegation battle, they have a 13-point buffer on the 18th-placed team.
West Ham are hoping to stay up and have already started planning for the next transfer window. The London outfit would ideally want to reinforce quite a few areas on the pitch, and the defence will be one of their top priorities.
The East London outfit want to sign someone who can help them in the short as well as the long run, and they consider Harwood-Bellis as an ideal fit for their project, having monitored him for a while now. He will most likely be available for a cut-price fee, and the Hammers want to make the most out of it.
West Ham could offer him an opportunity to stay in the Premier League and they are looking to make a move early to ensure they can beat the competition. The player has recently changed agents, which could be a sign that he is ready for another move in the summer. A potential transfer could cost around £15 million, which should not be much of a problem for the London club.
