"Classy" - Pundit issues transfer admission amid £15m tug of war between Ipswich and Southampton | OneFootball

Ipswich Town are eyeing a move for Manchester City's Southampton loanee Taylor Harwood-Bellis if they are promoted to the Premier League this season.

Harwood-Bellis is currently on loan at Ipswich's promotion rivals Southampton, but the Tractor Boys are reportedly keen on a permanent deal this summer.

That is according to a report on Sunday from Alan Nixon via Patreon, who claims that Ipswich are ready to pounce should they beat Southampton to promotion.

Interestingly, it has been reported previously by Nixon that Southampton have a permanent deal in place for Harwood-Bellis, as he will sign for the Saints in a permanent £15 million transfer if they are promoted in the summer.

The 22-year-old has had Championship loans with the likes of Blackburn Rovers, Stoke City, Burnley, and now Southampton, and has also been captain of England's U-21 team for some time now.

Carlton Palmer's issues Taylor Harwood-Bellis verdict as Ipswich and Southampton battle

Ex-England international Carlton Palmer believes Harwood-Bellis will have Premier League interest this summer, be that with Ipswich, Southampton or elsewhere in the top flight considering the standard of his performances at the top end of the Championship for some time now.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Palmer said: "There's a lot of speculation around Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

"It looks like he's set to leave Manchester City in the summer. He's currently on loan at Southampton where he has been outstanding.

"He's still only 22, and it's believed that a deal has been agreed should Southampton get promoted. He will sign for £15 million on a permanent deal. "The classy defender is looking at two successive promotions. Last season, he played a key role in Burnley's title-winning team. "He's made 35 Championship appearances so far this season, with two goals, three assists, and 11 clean sheets for Southampton. "The stumbling block will be if Southampton don't get promoted, but with the results as they went this weekend, and with two games in hand, they will still be well in the race. "I thought they were out of it but if they win their two games in hand, then they would be back in the automatic push, so they will face competition from other Premier League teams, because he has shown his quality. "Although it has been at Championship level, he's still only 22, and it's clear that he will be able to make that step up. "When you look at some players, you're not really sure, but Harwood-Bellis will. "At £15 million, for a classy centre-back, that would represent a good bit of business. Ipswich could be an option. "They are looking like they may be automatically promoted and it would be a great signing for them. "We've seen what the manager has done, and their recruitment has been spot on. If you get recruitment right, then you are in the position you are.

"Ipswich have been getting it all right from the manager to the recruitment staff."

Taylor Harwood-Bellis has showed his Premier League quality for Southampton

An argument could be made that Harwood-Bellis is the best defender in the division, as Palmer alludes to his assured nature in possession.

His background makes him being such an accomplished defender incredibly unsurprising, with Man City confident that big things would come from Harwood-Bellis.

The obvious next step is the Premier League, and he should be of interest to plenty of sides in the bottom half of the division next term, especially if Southampton miss out on promotion.

At only 22, there is plenty of scope for further development, whilst he is already comfortable on the ball and commanding in the air.