Southampton should fear multi-million pound January bids for these players | OneFootball

Southampton must be wary of bids for the likes of Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Shea Charles, and Flynn Downes this January

As the January transfer window is right around the corner, clubs in the EFL Championship will be on high alert as they look to hang on to their prized assets, and Southampton are no different.

It was a busy summer at St Mary's, both in terms of incomings and outgoings.

Will Still replaced Ivan Juric in the Saints dugout, whilst the likes of Mateus Fernandes, Tyler Dibling, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Kyle Walker-Peters, Jan Bednarek, Aaron Ramsdale, and Paul Onuachu all left the club.

In came the likes of Leo Scienza, Caspar Jander, Tom Fellows, Finn Azaz, and Joshua Quarshie, with much of the squad that was relegated with the club last season having gone and been replaced.

Indeed, Still has since been dismissed from his role and replaced by the club's Under-21 boss, Tonda Eckert, initially on an interim basis and then permanently after a successful run of results.

With the January window on the horizon and Southampton harbouring ambitions of promotion back to the Premier League, they will be hoping to stave off interest in these three players.

3 ? ? Taylor Harwood-Bellis

A product of the Manchester City academy, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, 23, spent time out on loan with the likes of Blackburn Rovers, Anderlecht, Stoke City, Burnley, and Southampton before his permanent switch to the Saints in 2024 for £20 million upon their promotion to the Premier League.

The once-capped England international has remained a regular since his arrival on the South Coast, aside from a brief spell out of the side this campaign, whilst Still was in charge.

Harwood-Bellis has played every league minute since Eckert's appointment, forming a solid back three alongside the likes of Joshua Quarshie, Nathan Wood, Jack Stephens, and Ronnie Edwards.

The centre-back attracted interest from the likes of West Ham United and Crystal Palace in March 2025, and was later linked with a move to Portuguese giants FC Porto.

Interest in Harwood-Bellis may once again emerge this January, and Southampton's hopes of promotion would be severely damaged should he depart.

2 ? ? Shea Charles

Like Harwood-Bellis, Shea Charles is also a product of the Manchester City academy, and made the £15 million switch to the South Coast in the summer of 2023, joining the likes of Romeo Lavia, Gavin Bazunu, Samuel Edozie, and Juan Larios to make the move from the Citizens the season prior.

The Northern Irish international played a sporadic part in the Saints' 2023/24 promotion season, and would spend the last campaign out on loan with Sheffield Wednesday under Danny Rohl, where he was lauded for his performances.

This season, Charles started each of Southampton's opening 12 league matches before limping off the pitch with a hamstring injury in their 2-1 away defeat to Blackburn Rovers in late October, and has not made an appearance since.

Charles was reportedly on the radar of West Ham during the summer, like Harwood-Bellis, but has remained at St Mary's, which the club will be hoping he will do for at least the remainder of this campaign, as his efforts in midfield once he returns to fitness could prove to be crucial in Southampton climbing the table.

1 ? ? Flynn Downes

Flynn Downes joined Southampton in the summer of 2024 following their promotion to the top flight, paying West Ham £18 million for his services, having spent the season on loan at St Mary's from the Hammers.

The tenacious midfielder endured a nightmare campaign last season with Southampton, winning just twice in 38 Premier League games, and this season didn't get off to a much better start, having spent time out due to severe food poisoning.

Downes has formed a strong partnership alongside Caspar Jandar in recent weeks and will look to keep Charles out of the side upon the Northern Irishman's return from injury.

The Englishman was linked with a summer reunion with former boss Russell Martin at Rangers, but that deal is now highly unlikely to happen, given the reported £10 million asking price and the fact that Martin is no longer at the club.

At 26, Downes is one of the best midfielders in the division, and Southampton