"Could easily double his value" - Ipswich Town eyeing up £15m Man City swoop | OneFootball

This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Harwood-Bellis is currently on loan with the Tractor Boys' promotion rivals Southampton, and a potential deal could all hinge on what the Saints do between now and the end of the 2023-24 Championship season.

Ipswich Town want Man City's Taylor Harwood-Bellis

According to Alan Nixon via Patreon, Ipswich will target Harwood-Bellis if indeed they are promoted to the Premier League, and Southampton are not.

This is because Southampton have already reportedly agreed a £15 million deal with Manchester City to sign the central defender should they themselves return to the top flight of English football for 2024-25.

However, the Saints are currently fourth in the Championship, whilst Ipswich top the table, and if the Saints fail to go up, the agreed deal is no longer valid - and that could potentially open the door for Ipswich to sign him for a similar fee.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis deserves Premier League chance amid Ipswich Town interest

With the above links in mind, it begs the question - Would Harwood-Bellis be a good signing for Ipswich if indeed the club go on to win promotion, and Southampton do not?

Some of our FLW writers have discussed that very point below.

Simmey Hannifin-Donaldson

I think if the eventuality arises where Ipswich Town are promoted and have the chance to sign Taylor Harwood-Bellis, they would be foolish not to explore it.

Last season at Burnley, and this season at Southampton, the young centre-half has shown he is a fantastic option at Championship level, and he is now surely deserving of a chance in the top-flight.

Doing so with Ipswich would be a good move, too, as he could realistically expect to get regular game time at Portman Road.

From Ipswich's perspective, the reported £15 million fee should not be seen as an obstacle either. In fact, that fee could prove to be a bargain.

If they were to sign Harwood-Bellis for that price, for example, given that he is still young and, of course, that he is English, the player could easily double his value, or more, with some strong performances in the top flight.

One negative against Harwood-Bellis would be the fact he does not have Premier League experience, which Ipswich will need to add in the summer if they do go up.

But, not every player they bring in needs that, and as such, a deal for Harwood-Bellis is very much worth trying to do.

Ben Wignall

Ipswich Town have had no issues in attack this year with their strength in depth, but somewhere they've always looked a tad short is at the back.

For the most part, Kieran McKenna has put his faith in Cameron Burgess and Luke Woolfenden - two players who were instrumental in last season's rise from League One in the first place.

The fact though that they have conceded a lot more goals than Leeds United and Leicester suggests that defensive strengthening this summer is going to be needed irrespective of the division they are in.

Therefore, the links to Harwood-Bellis make sense - he's going to find it tough to get in at Man City now and he's more-than proven himself at Championship level for both Burnley and Southampton, so now is the time where he needs to go and do it in the Premier League.

Of course, if Southampton go up then he will be doing just that, but Ipswich hold an intriguing alternative proposition for a very talented young defender.

Given the windfall they'd land in the event of promotion, £15 million isn't exactly a lot of money for a player who could be the rock of the club's defence for the next eight to 10 years, especially given his experience and pedigree.

With that in mind, should Town pip the Saints to promotion, then Harwood-Bellis should be one of the first names on McKenna's transfer targets list.