Southampton reject Villa’s £24m Harwood-Bellis bid as cup focus sharpens, Deossa decision awaited | OneFootball

Southampton have rejected Aston Villa’s second £24m offer for Taylor Harwood-Bellis, and Tonda Eckert is preparing fitness-led changes for Tuesday’s cup tie at St Mary’s, according to Sainstmarching.com.

Eckert would not quantify the rotation, stressing fitness. Finn Azaz completed his first 90 minutes, Flynn Downes has held midfield together, and Cyle Larin’s workload is being managed. He backed Larin as the division’s best striker, and the Canadian has scored in every game.

Villa’s package is worth £20m plus £4m, still below Southampton’s £30m stance. Personal terms are not an issue for Harwood-Bellis, who wants the move, and Eckert left him out against Stoke. Unai Emery also has a line to Club Brugge for Joel Ordonez, who would cost about the same.

Southampton are awaiting Nelson Deossa’s call on staying at Real Betis, while Olympiacos, River Plate, West Ham and Wolves are in the frame, though Deossa has played down every link. Preston want Cameron Archer on loan as he slips down the order, with Milutin Osmajic heading to Genoa. Ben Brereton Diaz was omitted at Stoke and, without a goal yet, looks likely to depart before the deadline.

Tomas Soucek misses out with World Cup ankle ligament damage and Pablo Felipe is a doubt, while Keiber Lamadrid should return. Nathan Wood covered Harwood-Bellis’s role on Saturday and few noticed. The window shuts on 1st September, so agree a fair price and then spend it.

Source: Sainstmarching.com

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