West Ham United are considering a late move to sign Southampton centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline, according to Sky Sports.
The east London club are in talks to bring Chelsea defender Axel Disasi to the London Stadium but with no agreement close yet, they are also looking at alternative options.
Nuno Espirito Santo wants an extra body in that position after Igor Julio returned to Brighton and Hove Albion this month, having joined the Irons on loan back in the summer transfer window.
West Ham are looking to secure Premier League survival in the coming months, as they lie six points from safety despite a mini-revival in recent weeks.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis ‘Not For Sale’
According to Sky Sports, despite West Ham’s interest in a move for the 24-year-old, Southampton consider the centre-back not for sale.
The one-cap England international completed a £20m move to St Mary’s when the side secured promotion back to the Premier League in 2024, but a dreadful 2024-25 season saw them drop straight back into the Championship with a miserable points tally.
Harwood-Bellis struggled with the step-up to the Premier League in a red and white shirt, and he has often struggled for form this term too, as the club has largely struggled under Will Still and Tonda Eckert.
Southampton sit 15th in the standings with the playoff positions looking like a big ask, but the south coast side will know they stand a better chance of achieving a top-six finish with the Englishman in their side, and they will want a large fee to consider selling.
West Ham Hold Harwood-Bellis Advantage
West Ham and David Sullivan are known to have a strong working relationship with agent Will Salthouse, who just happens to be Harwood-Bellis’ representative.
While the Hammers and Southampton would still need to agree a fee for the Englishman in the next days, that link could help get a deal across the line quickly.
One interesting side note to the story is that it was reported last week that Harwood-Bellis was actually keen on a move to Burnley, for both footballing and personal reasons.
The defender’s family live in the north so it may depend on how big a factor that is – as well as playing Premier League football – for the player ahead of his next potential transfer.
Should Harwood-Bellis make the move to the London Stadium, he would link up with two Saints he played with in the Premier League last season in Matty Fernandes and Kyle Walker-Peters.
Southampton and West Ham have done plenty of business in recent years – with Flynn Downes and James Ward-Prowse also switching clubs – and again that relationship could be key in negotiations.
Related
West Ham Eyeing Move to Sign ‘Phenomenal’ South American Forward in Late Deal
There is a big twist