West Ham United transfer news as Manchester City defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis wanted
West Ham United are interested in signing Manchester City defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis this summer, according to 90min.
The highly-rated centre-back has enjoyed a tremendous breakthrough campaign under Vincent Kompany at a resurgent Burnley side racing towards Premier League football for next season, registering a goal and two assists from 27 Sky Bet Championship games.
Harwood-Bellis is highly regarded at the Premier League giants, but his immediate future at the Etihad is uncertain with his current contract due to expire next summer.
And according to 90min [3 April], the Stockport-born centre-back would like to make the grade under Pep Guardiola but is resigned to a bit-part role next season, which could mean his future lies elsewhere.
Burnley are reportedly hoping to bring Harwood-Bellis back to the club next season, and City legend Kompany is hopeful that his former employers will sanction a deal – whether it be another loan or a permanent deal.
However, any deal may prove complicated with West Ham, Newcastle United, Fulham and Brentford also interested in his signature, according to the report.
Ideal capture
It’s easy to see why Harwood-Bellis is one of the most highly-regarded defenders in the country given his tremendous performances for Burnley so far this season.
An incredibly gifted centre-back possessing excellent qualities on the ball, aggressive and combative in his duel winning as well as being a very capable presence in the air.
At 21 years old, he’s got the perfect profile for Premier League clubs to sign him and build from and this is the sort of player West Ham United should be targeting this summer, with the likes of Angelo Ogbonna looking set to leave the London Stadium and even key defender Nayef Aguerd garnering interest elsewhere.
It looks like it could be a full-on London assault on the defensive wonderkid with Newcastle, Fulham and Brentford also interested, which doesn’t allow the Hammers a clear run at the defender.
More crucially, those three clubs have their Premier League statuses secured, whereas the Hammers don’t so who is in more danger of losing out? Tough sell.