Taylor Harwood-Bellis

[Patrick Bateman]

55 minutes ago, FootballMartin said:

 

 

I’ve really enjoyed watching Taylor develop this season. I thought he got better and better as the campaign went on especially in the big games. What impressed me most was seeing him grow not just only as a player, but as a leader too.

There was a real level of consistency to his performances too and that’s something you don’t see from every player. For me, he was my Player of the Season.

I didn’t like the way Sky and others clipped up his celebrations. Was it silly? Yes. But footballers are emotional, and when you care that much about winning, sometimes emotions take over.

I’d love to see him stay. He clearly loves being here, and I think it would take a lot for him to want to move on.

Same. I think the players have loved 2026 with Tonda - he's been a big part of them all raising their game and looking like they want to play for each other and put a huge shift in. I can't remember the last time I moaned about lack of effort - probably that Hull match (the home truths one). I'm pretty sure most of the current team want to do it again, THB especially. 

[beatlesaint]

14 minutes ago, Patrick Bateman said:

Same. I think the players have loved 2026 with Tonda - he's been a big part of them all raising their game and looking like they want to play for each other and put a huge shift in. I can't remember the last time I moaned about lack of effort - probably that Hull match (the home truths one). I'm pretty sure most of the current team want to do it again, THB especially. 

THB won’t be here next season, most obvious and likely departure in the whole squad.

[Saint86]

1 hour ago, bpsaint said:

I really hope that’s true, although I can’t help thinking married life and the prospect of a bigger family will take him back up North if a club comes in for him.

The club should dangle the carrot of captaincy to him IMO.

If (thats a big if) he's here next season, i think its very likely he'd be captain.

[hypochondriac]

2 hours ago, bpsaint said:

I really hope that’s true, although I can’t help thinking married life and the prospect of a bigger family will take him back up North if a club comes in for him.

The club should dangle the carrot of captaincy to him IMO.

The thing is though if he does stay the we will need to go ake money from elsewhere. I suppose it depends who will weaken us the most out of THB, Jander, Scienza and Charles. You'd think at least two of them will have to go to balance the books. Maybe three.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

2 hours ago, beatlesaint said:

THB won’t be here next season, most obvious and likely departure in the whole squad.

He's improved this season, and could make the step up. But the destination is important. Is the odd pay increase worth it, if it's for bouncing around relegation contenders every season. Would that still give him the chance to move further up, and break that cycle.

[CB Fry]

THB will go, we should be able to get decent money and replace him relatively economically. Nathan Wood will hope to be a more regular starter. Maybe Quashie steps up (maybe) or failing that Spors finds a ball playing CB gem for a couple of million somewhere.

But THB is off, hopefully out of the Championship and to the lower end of the Prem.

[warsash saint]

10 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

THB will go, we should be able to get decent money and replace him relatively economically. Nathan Wood will hope to be a more regular starter. Maybe Quashie steps up (maybe) or failing that Spors finds a ball playing CB gem for a couple of million somewhere.

But THB is off, hopefully out of the Championship and to the lower end of the Prem.

Top half of the Prem i reckon ... could see him at a Villa or Brighton

[LaptopSaint]

My guess would be THB Jander and Charles all go. But who knows. The price has to be right and big Dragan looks in the mood to fight. 

[SuperSAINT]

7 minutes ago, LaptopSaint said:

My guess would be THB Jander and Charles all go. But who knows. The price has to be right and big Dragan looks in the mood to fight. 

Think Leo will stay?

[skintsaint]

26 minutes ago, warsash saint said:

Top half of the Prem i reckon ... could see him at a Villa or Brighton

Leeds I reckon.

[Willo of Whiteley]

I think Jander and Charles are more likely to go than THB

[Patrick Bateman]

14 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I think Jander and Charles are more likely to go than THB

Same ... those are the two I keep thinking about as well, both able to step up easily. Jander especially is far too good for the Championship already.

[St. Ciervo]

8 hours ago, skintsaint said:

Leeds I reckon.

Then we will leap frog him next year. Too short-sighted for a player that has experienced relegation, imo. Or maybe that is just wishful thinking. 

[benjii]

7 hours ago, Patrick Bateman said:

Same ... those are the two I keep thinking about as well, both able to step up easily. Jander especially is far too good for the Championship already.

Jander has 3 years left on his contract so we should be demanding a BIG fee, otherwise he can give us another year.

[Charlie Wayman]

Unless we need the money there will be pressure from the club for players to honour their existing contracts even at the expense of future losses in transfer fees. If we then get promoted the balance sheet will sort itself out.

We would know by Christmas of the likelihood of promotion so players more likely to be allowed to leave in the January window than now.

[IFHP]

8 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Unless we need the money there will be pressure from the club for players to honour their existing contracts even at the expense of future losses in transfer fees. If we then get promoted the balance sheet will sort itself out.

We would know by Christmas of the likelihood of promotion so players more likely to be allowed to leave in the January window than now.

If we used that logic last season then half the squad would have been sold in January. 
 

Also yoi only have to finish 8th now to be in the play offs . 3/4 of the division will think they’ll still have a chance a Christmas. 

[Saint86]

9 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I think Jander and Charles are more likely to go than THB

It will be THB and Charles for certain. And we'll take any offer north of £20-25M for Scienza. Those 3 sales should bring in circa £60M.

Jander has a long time left on his contract, is young, and looks to have a very high ceiling. We should be digging our heels in with him and pushing for £30M+ for any sale imho.

We need to make up a £15M drop in parachute payments. Larin and Peretz (if we sign them both) will be £10M. So we're looking at replacing THB and Charles with a pot of circa £20-30M, plus a bit of profit. If Jander goes then we'll be Spendy McSpendy.

[jrobsbigshorts]

What a season THBs had from being dropped  by Still to being the best CB in the league , goals , Hollywood passes , the binoculars, the bottle post 

Love him to stay but I can't see it tbh , I was gutted when we sold Ronnie Edwards for relatively cheap , always thought he seemed the natural replacement, I think there's a player there with quarshie but he's a bit raw and I see him paired with a ball playing CB , not sure that Quarshie/Stephens or Wood/Stephens is up to it ? 

Spors needs to find someone else I guess

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Unless we need the money there will be pressure from the club for players to honour their existing contracts even at the expense of future losses in transfer fees. If we then get promoted the balance sheet will sort itself out.

We would know by Christmas of the likelihood of promotion so players more likely to be allowed to leave in the January window than now.

Where were we at Christmas last year?

[Charlie Wayman]

1 hour ago, IFHP said:

If we used that logic last season then half the squad would have been sold in January. 

That doesn't follow ar all. We didn't know then what we know now. Very few if any of our players had broken through on their potential in the way that they did under Eckert later in the season. None of our players would have attracted much interest last Christmas even if they had been put up for sale.

[gio1saints]

There is also the thought that player reputations have been tarnished by the spygate issue. WHEREVER they go that will follow them like unwanted baggage. It may affect valuations it may affect wages offered and it may affect supporters propensity to bringing a “ cheat”into there club. We know the players themselves did not cheat but on the terraces that doesn’t matter. And owners may not want a controversial with supporters signing like that if there’s easier alternatives. 

One way to exorcise that ghost is to stay at Saints with essentially the same squad as last year and SHOW the world 20 odd games unbeaten was not down to spying but to there skills there effort sweat blood & guts. Get promoted then leave having got the monkey off their backs. Just a thought. 
 

Another angle has already been mentioned - this squad stays largely intact with manager we have got to be play offs at least. That means lots of wins. Alternatively they may go to relegation fighting EPL team and get beaten every week. More money - for a short while - but not such a smooth upward trajectory. 
 

Id like to think the whole team including the Manager will feel they have a point to prove and stay and play with extra vim accordingly. 

Edited June 4 by gio1saints

[Doctoroncall]

.

Edited June 4 by Doctoroncall
Repeat

[Polaroid Saint]

Appears to me that it would make sense, career wise, for THB to stay.

There's no panic about making the England set up next year. Show consistency and maturity (which THB needs to developed). Be the best in your division in the Championship, lead your team to promotion and then establish yourself in the Premier League. THAT way you might just end up in the conversation for a place in an England team for the following Euros. 

[goodymatt]

I guess the main question is whether they will sign more than 1 CB or if they are moving on from THB? 

[Disco Stu]

19 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

I guess the main question is whether they will sign more than 1 CB or if they are moving on from THB? 

I think they're after two centre half’s. They'll have 50+ games this season.

Edited 7 hours ago by Disco Stu

[OldNick]

19 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

I guess the main question is whether they will sign more than 1 CB or if they are moving on from THB? 

I wonnder how much this player is? THB must be thrilled that Villa are not really going for it to get him. Not a good look 

[BERMUDASAINT]

39 minutes ago, OldNick said:

I wonnder how much this player is? THB must be thrilled that Villa are not really going for it to get him. Not a good look 

Looks like both are valued at 30 mill, so with THB being the prefered CB, with PL experience we should be  holding out for 30+

 

Sources can also confirm that Harwood-Bellis has made it clear he is keen to make the move to Villa Park, and TEAMtalk understands that was a factor in him being left out of Southampton’s clash with Stoke City over the weekend, a game they won 3-1.

The 24-year-old is regarded as Villa’s preferred option to strengthen their central defensive ranks, although the club continue to assess alternatives as they look to reinforce after the departure of Ezri Konsa to Arsenal…

Villa also in the mix to sign Club Brugge powerhouse
Villa have also made enquiries about Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez, another highly-rated young centre-back who has long been admired by Chelsea.

TEAMtalk understands Ordonez is also attracted by the prospect of working under Unai Emery, but the financial side of any move presents another obstacle.

Club Brugge are understood to want a fee in a similar region to Southampton’s £30million valuation of Harwood-Bellis, while Villa are reluctant to meet that level for either player.

[HKsaint]

Can we find any decent replacement with £25M?

[CB Fry]

14 minutes ago, HKsaint said:

Can we find any decent replacement with £25M?

we won't be spending much more than £10 - £15m. if you think we are spending all we bring on THB on his replacement prepare to be massively disappointed.

[Chez]

30 minutes ago, HKsaint said:

Can we find any decent replacement with £25M?

You'd hope so, but it will be more like £10m. The last rejected bid by Wrexham for Henrik Falchener was £8.1m. 23 year old Norwegian international. Not saying we are interested, but that's the kind of price ball park we are likely going to be in.

[Chez]

1 hour ago, OldNick said:

I wonnder how much this player is? THB must be thrilled that Villa are not really going for it to get him. Not a good look 

When i Google him, the talk is of him being a £30m (maybe even £35-40m) player. How accurate that is I don't know. However, if accurate, it seems strange that on the one hand they are after a CL-experienced player for that kind of money while on the other hand they are trying to buy a Championship defender at closer to £20m.

[hypochondriac]

2 minutes ago, Chez said:

When i Google him, the talk is of him being a £30m (maybe even £35-40m) player. How accurate that is I don't know. However, if accurate, it seems strange that on the one hand they are after a CL-experienced player for that kind of money while on the other hand they are trying to buy a Championship defender at closer to £20m.

Unless they want both.

[BallBoy]

I don't pretend to know how transfer negotiations work but I am concerned that THB will go at the very end of the window leaving us no time to sign a decent replacement. Is it possible to set a deadline of this coming Saturday for Villa to make an acceptable offer. Anything after that to be rejected. THB to kept informed.

Maybe I am a little naive but THB is still under contract. Tell him he is playing on Saturday in the absence of such an offer.

[Weston Super Saint]

Just now, BallBoy said:

I don't pretend to know how transfer negotiations work but I am concerned that THB will go at the very end of the window leaving us no time to sign a decent replacement. Is it possible to set a deadline of this coming Saturday for Villa to make an acceptable offer. Anything after that to be rejected. THB to kept informed.

Maybe I am a little naive but THB is still under contract. Tell him he is playing on Saturday in the absence of such an offer.

You know that we could still utilise the loan market after the permanent window closes?

Also, the info released suggested he wanted to play on Saturday but the manager decided he didn't have the focus, so not sure what 'telling him he is playing' will achieve?

[Paul Chuckle]

22 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

You know that we could still utilise the loan market after the permanent window closes?

Also, the info released suggested he wanted to play on Saturday but the manager decided he didn't have the focus, so not sure what 'telling him he is playing' will achieve?

Not to go all Matt Le God on you, but the permanent and loan windows close on the same day

[hypochondriac]

29 minutes ago, BallBoy said:

I don't pretend to know how transfer negotiations work but I am concerned that THB will go at the very end of the window leaving us no time to sign a decent replacement. Is it possible to set a deadline of this coming Saturday for Villa to make an acceptable offer. Anything after that to be rejected. THB to kept informed.

Maybe I am a little naive but THB is still under contract. Tell him he is playing on Saturday in the absence of such an offer.

THB won't be going unless we know we can get a replacement in. 0% chance we don't replace him.

[LiberalCommunist]

He'll go in the last hour if Villa drop a real offer. No way we are going to stop him and risk having a very disgruntled player at this sensitive time. No chance. 

And if anyone is feeling particularly sensitive about this transfer. Its worth remembering that the club have allowed this to happen. I actually feel we've got away with some serious turmoil. Things could have been so much worse. 

[sadoldgit]

7 minutes ago, LiberalCommunist said:

He'll go in the last hour if Villa drop a real offer. No way we are going to stop him and risk having a very disgruntled player at this sensitive time. No chance. 

And if anyone is feeling particularly sensitive about this transfer. Its worth remembering that the club have allowed this to happen. I actually feel we've got away with some serious turmoil. Things could have been so much worse. 

There is absolutely no way that they will sell him at the last minute without a replacement. Relax. 

[Football Special]

3 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

THB won't be going unless we know we can get a replacement in. 0% chance we don't replace him.

We still owe a chunk of the original transfer fee to Man City (£10M?) so i think we really need to hold out for a decent profit to be able to re-invest it 

[2Morrow]

18 minutes ago, Football Special said:

We still owe a chunk of the original transfer fee to Man City (£10M?) so i think we really need to hold out for a decent profit to be able to re-invest it 

His book value will be £10m amortisation cost, which means a fee above that minus the City sell on % will be profit on this year's accounts.

Hypothetically speaking, a £20m fee would be £10m profit. In a vacuum that would be 2 players signed for £20m on 4 year contracts at (£10m amortisation combined per year). In reality that would need £10m profit each year to fund those 2 players amortisation each year for those 4 years so we wont do that.

We can however reinvest the £20m plus received for a decent level of replacement (£10m -£12m over 4 years would be £2.5-3m a year) and book the rest to cover minor outlays. I imagine the Charles fee accounts for the full lost income in parachute payment drops and the THB sale would fund two decent replacements for each at the above £10-12m mark (like Jander, Scienza, stretch to an Azaz, were).

Dobbin was probably the £10m the owner can invest each year under the nrw SCR rules.

Clearing out the unused players will reduce the wage bill, and let us do more in the future by reducing our losses on salary (BBD, Sugawara, Ramsdale, Baz etc.). If we weren't to sell THB, we are probably waiting to get rid of the hangers on to release the amortisation to replace Charles less riskily.

[hypochondriac]

I actually don't think this is a good thing re THB. If he doesn't go then that's amazing but it's still more likely than not that he does go and we want the most amount of time possible to get in the best replacement we can.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

2 hours ago, LiberalCommunist said:

He'll go in the last hour if Villa drop a real offer. No way we are going to stop him and risk having a very disgruntled player at this sensitive time. No chance. 

Hopefully Villa move on and find someone else and THB stays ... and I don't think he'll be disgruntled. There's a lot of people who want him here.

[St Chalet]

1 hour ago, Football Special said:

We still owe a chunk of the original transfer fee to Man City (£10M?) so i think we really need to hold out for a decent profit to be able to re-invest it 

Accounting 101 = knowing the difference between P&L and Cash.

Don't get me wrong, both matter, but the lines are very blurred between the two with FFP / PSR

[hypochondriac]

I think some people are getting their hopes up with this latest news. He's still very likely to go in my opinion and clearly wants to play in the prem. A week is a long time in the transfer window!

[Football Special]

11 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I think some people are getting their hopes up with this latest news. He's still very likely to go in my opinion and clearly wants to play in the prem. A week is a long time in the transfer window!

Clearly they are hoping we fold and accept their bid by panicking they are going for the other mush instead 

Don't fall for it Saints 

[hypochondriac]

Just now, Football Special said:

Clearly they are hoping we fold and accept their bid by panicking they are going for the other mush instead 

Don't fall for it Saints 

They'll probably return in a couple of days if it's true that THB is their top target. I find the whole finances in the prem thing rather weird though. They've just made the champions league and all the riches that come with that and they've been forced to sell half their team and can't afford to pay the amount for a player that Fulham were easily able to afford.

[Football Special]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

They'll probably return in a couple of days if it's true that THB is their top target. I find the whole finances in the prem thing rather weird though. They've just made the champions league and all the riches that come with that and they've been forced to sell half their team and can't afford to pay the amount for a player that Fulham were easily able to afford.

Yeah I wont even try to understand it, its a uefa thing over 3 year period? I've seen mention they need to win our net spend trophy to bring them back into line but makes no sense compared to what some other teams have spent especially with income from high Prem finish and winning Europa league 

[die Mannyschaft]

4 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

They'll probably return in a couple of days if it's true that THB is their top target. I find the whole finances in the prem thing rather weird though. They've just made the champions league and all the riches that come with that and they've been forced to sell half their team and can't afford to pay the amount for a player that Fulham were easily able to afford.

Its likely Villa pay huge wages and owners want some of the revenue back in thier pockets. Sounds like Villa over spent in last years to get in top 4.

Still puzzled as to how Chelsea manage to buy so many players.