The chances of West Ham United pulling off a deal for Taylor Harwood-Bellis appear to have increased dramatically this evening.
Both Jacob Steinberg and talkSPORT are now suggesting the transfer “has legs”, with the move reported to be at the direct request of manager Nuno Espírito Santo.
As outlined earlier, West Ham’s interest in Axel Disasi has cooled after Chelsea stalled negotiations while waiting to complete a deal for Jérémy Jacquet from Rennes.
A Mavropanos Deputy?
Harwood-Bellis, 24, operates primarily on the right side of central defence and would likely arrive as competition or understudy for Konstantinos Mavropanos.
The former Manchester City academy graduate offers strong leadership qualities, a decent passing range and an impressive goal return for a defender, having scored four times this campaign. Pace, however, is not considered his strongest attribute.
As Claret & Hugh reported earlier this evening, West Ham may need to make Southampton an offer they simply cannot refuse if they are to prise away one of their key defensive assets at this late stage of the window.
With time running out, this one now feels very much alive.
Taylor Harwood Bellis is a will Salthouse client but apparently Southampton are saying he’s not for sale and the player himself says he wants to play for Burnley. He wants to play in the north for both family and personal reasons. So good luck with getting this transfer over the line.
Another ways of looking at this are…..
1. Championship player for next season when we are forced to sell
2. Another Southampton player who helped relegate them to join the other players that helped relegate them Walker-Peters
3. A star like Fernandes waiting for his opportunity that Man City stupidly let go and needs better players around him to show what he can do.
Looks unlikely according to TV report.
Definitely no loan cash only.
Apparently bid Strongly rejected by Southampton as only half of what they value him. If true typical Sully negotiating leading to failure and the usual ‘we tried’ excuses when the window closes. Shame as believe he is an upgrade on Charlie Cresswell and way above the standard of Mavrapanos
The good news is we might sign a good championship player for next year !
That’s all he just best
Southampton 2.0
This is a potentially excellent buy: a young England international with leadership qualities and who is a goalscoring threat at set pieces. As always, the fear is that Sullivan will not match Southampton’s valuation and this will go the same way as our last attempt to buy him, and also Charlie Cresswell last year. For once we need Sullivan to step up to the mark instead of the limp “We tried”. Our slim chances of avoiding relegation may depend on completing this transfer.
can we sign a player who’s not used to losing and shipping goals.
maybe someone who’s used to keeping a clean sheet every now and then.