£20m Southampton star's St Mary's future could hinge on one clear factor | OneFootball

Taylor Harwood-Bellis' future on the South Coast is currently up in the air

Despite enduring a frustrating campaign after being relegated from the Premier League, Southampton still hold a fighting chance of making the play-offs at the end of the regular Championship season.

After seeing star striker, Adam Armstrong, depart for the Premier League's bottom club, Wolverhampton Wanderers, on Deadline Day, there wasn't the greatest sense of excitement amongst Saints supporters for their crucial weekend showdown against Watford at St. Mary's.

However, their final incoming of the winter window, Cyle Larin, was on hand to showcase exactly why his signature was courted on an initial loan basis from RCD Mallorca, with the Canadian's 70th-minute strike sealing a narrow, yet important victory over the Hornets, who are also still in the play-off conversation despite recent chaos ensuing at Vicarage Road.

In fact, after their 2-1 defeat to Hull City on January 17th, the South Coast side have enjoyed their best run of form since Tonda Eckert was handed the Saints vacancy on a full-time basis back in December, going unbeaten over the course of four matches, winning three of those against Sheffield United, Stoke City and Watford.

It has been well-documented that Southampton were among the pre-season favourites for yet another first-time promotion back to the top-flight, even after a period of mass change at the club, which has certainly continued into the current campaign.

However, one major plus point for Saints supporters - of which there hasn't exactly been many in recent times - is that one-time England international, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, hasn't joined the endless list of high-profile departees.

It, of course, does remain to be seen just how long the Manchester City academy graduate will continue to feature in red and white for, though, and it could hinge on one factor which Eckert and his players can help decide within the upcoming three-month period.

Harwood-Bellis' progression over time has seen the 24-year-old continuously attract interest, even as far back as his previous loan stints at Championship level with Blackburn Rovers, Stoke and Burnley.

The 24-year-old became an integral part of Vincent Kompany's defence at Turf Moor during the 2022/23 campaign, which ended with the Clarets conceding just 35 times across 46 league encounters, as they romped to the second tier title by accumulating 101 points.

Harwood-Bellis, however, would not rejoin the Clarets and enjoy a breakthrough Premier League season at the time, instead becoming one of Russell Martin's first signings at St Mary's on an initial loan basis from Man City, which could be turned permanent at the end of the season.

It would be turned permanent on a four-year deal worth £20m in May 2024 after the centre-back was pivotal in Saints' play-off winning campaign which ended in a 1-0 success over Leeds United at Wembley Stadium. And, despite the club's dire 12-point season last term, the defender marking his England debut with a goal against the Republic of Ireland in November 2024 was further proof that the Stockport native was on the right track in terms of his individual trajectory.

After West Ham failed to land his services - which would occur once more in the winter window - after previously signing ex-Saints duo, Kyle Walker-Peters and Mateus Fernandes, Football League World exclusively revealed that Harwood-Bellis was attracting Premier League interest once more in January, with Burnley and Everton subsequently namedropped as potential suitors.

A third club has since joined that particular party in the form of Serie A giants, Fiorentina, in what would represent an intriguing career move.

Therefore, whilst Saints will continue to hold the bulk of the bargaining power in any potential deal, an exit will only feel more inevitable if they are not a top-flight side again next season.

Harwood-Bellis has remained one of the Championship's leading performers despite Southampton's current position of 14th, as he continues to showcase the multiple attributes needed to succeed as a modern-day centre-back.

Naturally, coming through Man City's conveyor belt, he is extremely composed on the ball and under pressure, and has constantly been a goal threat for Saints from attacking set-piece situations.

As such, it would not be a surprise to see the club make a profit on the £20m parted with nearly two seasons ago, although the chances of keeping hold of Harwood-Bellis is likely to hinge on whether promotion through the play-offs can be achieved once more.

Saints are currently just four points behind sixth, and have 15 final matches to decide whether the outcome of their campaign is a successful one, or a failure.