Southampton turn down Aston Villa’s £18m offer for Taylor Harwood-Bellis | OneFootball

Southampton have rejected an opening £18m bid from Aston Villa for vice-captain Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Daily Echo reports.

Villa are in the market for a centre-back, with England defender Ezri Konsa expected to leave for champions Arsenal in a deal worth an initial £51m.

The offer was viewed as well below Southampton’s valuation. Harwood-Bellis is under contract until 2028 and is rated at £25-30m, having cost £20m two years ago.

Benfica had a bid of at least £17m turned down last week. Villa have also been linked with AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori, who would command a smaller fee to bring to Villa Park this month.

Harwood-Bellis, 24, joined on loan in 2023, then signed permanently from Manchester City after promotion to the Premier League.

He was a key figure last season, making 48 appearances in all competitions, including 41 in the Championship.

He won his first England cap against the Republic of Ireland in November 2024 and scored, which remains his only senior appearance.

Source: Daily Echo

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”