The Tractor Boys may be watching the play-offs with a keen eye, even if they aren’t involved
HIGHLIGHTS
- Ipswich Town could capitalize on Southampton’s potential failure to secure Premier League promotion to sign Harwood-Bellis.
- Harwood-Bellis desires Premier League football, making Ipswich an attractive option if Southampton doesn’t achieve promotion.
- The Tractor Boys may secure the talented young defender as they aim to reinforce their squad for a challenging Premier League season.
Even if Ipswich Town manage to gain automatic promotion to the Premier League in the final Championship stretch, they may still have one eye on the play-offs for the potential to raid one of their fellow second-tier contenders.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis, a young defender on loan from Manchester City, has had a fantastic season leading the Saints’ defense, and they will undoubtedly want to hang onto him if they can.
But the South Coast team has struggled lately, and it appears that their chances of getting promoted are in jeopardy. If these worries come true, Harwood-Bellis might be lost.
On the other hand, the Tractor Boys could try to take advantage of Southampton’s predicament since they are well-positioned to secure an automatic spot in the Premier League.
Saints risk losing Harwood-Bellis without Premier League football
The 22-year-old has settled in well at St Mary’s Stadium and his consistent performances make it clear that he is very comfortable at that level, despite his young age.
Picking up 38 starts in the heart of the Saints defence this season shows how vital he has become, and the club would surely like to hold onto the youngster if possible.
Harwood-Bellis himself has expressed a strong desire to stay at the club beyond his temporary deal, but on one condition: that the club returns to the Premier League.
| Harwood-Bellis’s league loan history, as per Transfermarkt | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team (Season) | League | Apps | Goals | Assists |
| Southampton (23/24) | Championship | 38 | 2 | 3 |
| Burnley (22/23) | Championship | 32 | 1 | 2 |
| Stoke City (21/22) | Championship | 22 | 0 | 1 |
| Anderlecht (21/22) | Jupiler Pro League | 16 | 0 | 2 |
| Blackburn Rovers (20/21) | Championship | 19 | 0 | 0 |
This sentiment is also echoed in his loan, as Southampton rising to the top flight would activate a clause in the deal that would allow Saints the opportunity to sign the England U21 for £20million in the upcoming transfer window.
Southampton have come to rely on Harwood-Bellis, so failure to win promotion could prove costly on two fronts.
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Contracted to City until the summer of 2025, in a deal signed last summer to protect his value once this stage was reached, this summer appears to represent the perfect junction for Harwood-Bellis to leave the Etihad in search of consistent, first-team, top-level football.
Although the brief extension seems to indicate that this was always the plan, it seems doubtful that the young defender will overtake more seasoned players like Ruben Dias at this early point in his career.
Harwood-Bellis won’t want to go back to playing in the academy or as a squad player at City as he has been accustomed to playing regularly and is now an important part of the senior squad. Doing so might be detrimental to his development and all of the hard work he has put in this season.
Despite that, he is clear about his need for Premier League football, so if Southampton cannot satisfy that demand, Ipswich could prove to be the answer, provided they themselves achieve promotion.
If the Tractor Boys go up and Southampton crack in the play-offs, then it could put Ipswich in prime position to hijack the deal.
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Alumnus of the Sunderland academy, Harrison-Bellis has been extended an opportunity by Ipswich Town to trial, strengthening the team ahead of a challenging campaign.
Ipswich would probably find that a quick switch to the Premier League is the hardest challenge they have faced in a while, having only been promoted from League One the previous season.
With only a few established center backs and an overabundance of full backs, they are also lacking in defenders at the moment. As a result, they will probably need to bolster their defense in preparation for a season in which they will be defending more than attacking.
Ipswich will probably be the only team interested in Harwood-Bellis if Southampton doesn’t get promoted, but they will have the benefit of being able to offer the young defender guaranteed first-team minutes in the Premier League, which may not be available elsewhere.
Even if their automatic promotion is guaranteed, the Tractor Boys will be keeping a close eye on the play-offs and should take advantage of their position if it opens up a signing window for Harwood-Bellis.
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