West Ham told to sign Southampton player with 'bags of potential' before September 1st | OneFootball

FLW's West Ham fan pundit has told the club why they must sign Taylor Harwood-Bellis

West Ham could be set for a busy end to the transfer window as they look to strengthen their first team squad.

The Hammers have added six faces so far this summer, but could be in line for another few additions before Tuesday’s deadline.

Nuno Espírito Santo will want to bolster his options, as he targets automatic promotion this season.

But time is now running out, with under a week remaining before the market closes for the rest of the calendar year.

The London outfit, earning one point from a possible six in their opening two games, could also spur on some action late in the market.

West Ham were relegated from the Premier League last season, and will want to bounce back straight away to earn their place in the top flight.

West Ham urged to sign Taylor Harwood-Bellis

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When asked which player he’d love to see the club sign before the market closes, FLW’s West Ham fan pundit Ryan Horn named Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

He believes the centre-back would become the best player in Espírito Santo’s side in that position should he join, and that his leadership qualities would also make him a valuable asset to have in the dressing room.

“I think it would be Taylor Harwood-Bellis from Southampton,” Horn told Football League World.

“He’s still got plenty of years left, he’s been very consistent for Southampton, plenty of experience when it comes to Prem and the Championship.

“Bags of potential, I’d really like him.

“We need a centre-back for the future, and we’ve got some amazing youth, but we just need that player that can play first team week-in and week-out, and I think he’s better than all our centre-backs we have at the moment.

“If it wasn’t for [Axel] Disasi going to Palace, I would’ve said him, but it would be Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

“I think he has that leadership role, he’s been playing in the U21 for England as well in the past.

“I really like him, yeah, it’s him.”

Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ Southampton future

Harwood-Bellis’ future has been the subject of intense speculation ever since the end of last season following the Saints’ failure to gain promotion.

The centre-back was reportedly the subject of an offer worth up to £24 million from Aston Villa earlier this month.

It remains to be seen whether the Premier League side will continue with their pursuit of the Southampton star after this offer was turned down.

The Championship side are seeking £30 million for Harwood-Bellis, with Benfica also showing an interest in his services earlier this summer.

It is unclear whether he would be open to a move from St. Mary’s to West Ham, with both clubs likely to compete for promotion to the Premier League this season.

The 24-year-old has been a key figure in Tonda Eckert’s side, making 41 appearances in the league last season, to help the team finish fourth in the table.

However, Harwood-Bellis was left out of the side that won 3-1 against Stoke City last weekend, as speculation mounts on his future.

The defender was also recognised by the PFA earlier this week by being named in the Championship team of the year for 2025/26.

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Taylor Harwood-Bellis deal would be tricky for West Ham

Southampton have dug their heels in on Harwood-Bellis’ future this summer, and it’s hard to imagine them budging at this point.

So West Ham will need to cough up more than £24 million in order to get a deal over the line, which seems unlikely at this stage.

There’s no doubt that he could be a great addition to Espírito Santo’s side, and a great replacement for Axel Disasi.

But it will be a tricky deal to get done so late in the window, and it’s unclear whether he would even be open to a move that would ultimately still keep him in the Championship.