£20m Southampton star tipped for Premier League transfer - West Ham were linked | OneFootball

The 24-year-old defender joined the Saints from Manchester City for a reported £20m two years ago

Unbeaten in ten games across all competitions, Southampton FC are in a great place to push for a playoff place this season and could even get promoted.

Tonda Eckert's side have amassed a Championship points total of 53 so far whilst having a goal difference of +11, scoring 57 and conceding 46.

Much credit for this positive goal record has to go to 24-year-old centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who joined the Saints permanently from Manchester City for a reported fee of £20m in 2024.

If the Hampshire-based outfit achieved promotion to the Premier League come the end of the 25/26 season, this would, of course, be Harwood-Bellis' second with the club - as he spent the 23/24 campaign on loan, playing every minute of the 1-0 playoff final win against Leeds United.

Regardless of whether Southampton go up this season or not, FLW's Saints Fan Pundit, Martin Sanders, predicts big things for England international Harwood-Bellis, who was wanted by West Ham United in January.

Southampton's Taylor Harwood-Bellis 'destined' for Premier League football

Said admiration from West Ham for Harwood-Bellis is no secret, and things came to a head late in the January window when the Hammers saw a loan proposal rejected.

The BBC reported that the offer was knocked back as Saints were only willing to consider letting the defender go if 'significantly improved' terms were put on the table.

Seeing as though Harwood-Bellis has started all 30 league matches he's been available for - racking up 2,700 minutes of game time - it's no surprise that Southampton refused to let him go.

This is perhaps why Sanders thinks the centre-back will leave the club unless this season ends in promotion, telling FLW "Yeah, he’ll definitely be gone."

The Fan Pundit pointed to Harwood-Bellis display against Fulham in the fifth-round of the FA Cup as to why he thinks a potential transfer could take place, saying, "He was the best player against Fulham, he’s such a good player, he’s brilliant."

Given that West Ham’s aforementioned interest has already been tested once, Sanders cannot see the London club walking away if Harwood-Bellis is available in the summer, and they survive the drop.

"He was touted in the January window by West Ham, they’d come back for him I would think, but he’s destined to play in the Premier League, he’s a proper Rolls Royce defender," Sanders continued.

Harwood-Bellis was handed the captain's armband for the FA Cup trip to Craven Cottage, and the German head coach described it as an easy decision, revealing via the Southern Daily Echo that the defender is "on a journey" and has become a much better player to the one he was 12 months ago.

West Ham United could reignite Taylor Harwood-Bellis transfer hopes if Southampton stay down

Sanders concluded his words on Harwood-Bellis by reiterating his earlier comments about the Fulham match, claiming, "His performance against Fulham was with the armband as well, so, he’s a leader, he’s got better and better this season.

"I think Tonda Eckert has said about how he’s properly matured as a player, and he has," the Fan Pundit said.

Ultimately, a defender of THB's profile and age is surely always going to attract Premier League suitors, particularly those looking for a long-term solution at centre-back. By Eckert saying he's 'on a journey', it could well imply the final destination of that journey is the top-flight of English football.

West Ham opted to sign Chelsea's Axel Disasi on loan after their approach for Harwood-Bellis was knocked back in the winter transfer window, so they could definitely reignite their interest in the Englishman once the season ends.

Aside from earning eight clean sheets in the league, Harwood-Bellis also has an impressive five goals and one assist to his name. For a centre-back to have this amount of a goal threat is seriously impressive, and it's the most goals he's ever scored/contributed to in a single season.

So, from Sanders' perspective, staying in the second tier for another season would almost guarantee the player leaves Hampshire, especially if offers creep towards or beyond the fee Southampton paid Man City two years ago. But, that could definitely change if Saints do the job themselves and get promoted back to the Premier League.