Exclusive: Who Lee Hendrie thinks Burnley's ideal CJ Egan-Riley replacement is - he's at Southampton FC | OneFootball

Speaking exclusively with FLW, Lee Hendrie has identified the Saints defender as an ideal CJ Egan-Riley replacement for Burnley.

Burnley are reportedly interested in recruiting Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

The news, reported by The Sun, follows the departure of Clarets defender CJ Egan-Riley, who rejected a contract offer to join Marseille on a free.

With Southampton needing to resize their squad following a painful relegation from the Premier League, Burnley appear to fancy Harwood-Bellis as the ideal replacement.

We asked Sky Sports pundit and former Aston Villa man Lee Hendrie for his thoughts on the potential move.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis ideal replacement for Egan-Riley says Lee Hendrie

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Hendrie said: “Burnley want to re-sign Taylor Harwood-Bellis from Southampton. Is he the perfect CJ Egan-Riley replacement? Yes, I think so.

“I think what CJ Egan-Riley did last season was fantastic. He had a great season.

"I think Harwood-Bellis is very similar, in a certain way, to the way he plays, his style.

“Obviously, he knows the football club. So, I think, yes, really good replacement for Burnley if that is to happen.”

Harwood-Bellis would be on familiar ground at Turf Moor

It would, of course, not be Harwood-Bellis’ first stint at Burnley, having been on loan with the club from Manchester City in the 2022/23 season.

There he made 32 league appearances, netting one goal and providing two assists, and helped a Vincent Kompany-led side to the Championship title with 101 points.

He made a strong impression there, with some reports at the end of the season suggesting the Lancashire side wanted him back the following season.

Instead, it was decided he’d go back on loan, this time to Southampton, where he repeated the feat and helped the Saints get promoted to the Premier League, this time signing permanently and becoming a Premier League regular for the side.

Now at 23 years old, with a Premier League season under his belt and Burnley promoted once more, it is easy to imagine Harwood-Bellis feeling like he has unfinished business at Turf Moor.

Harwood-Bellis signing would be a great start to the reinforcement of Burnley's defence

Burnley were commended last season for their incredible defence, somehow conceding just 16 goals across the entire Championship season.

As is often the case with good things further down the food chain, the heavyweights of the game are moving in to break it up.

Marseille have already taken Egan-Riley, Newcastle United have been sniffing around James Trafford for some time, and Maxime Esteve has attracted admiring glances from former Burnley boss Kompany, now at Bayern Munich.

It’s all well and good entering the top tier of English football with an incredible defensive record, but it stands for little if all the key components have since/are likely to move on.

However, if Burnley can land a player like Harwood-Bellis, who has already dealt with the transition between the leagues once before and has proved capable in the Premier League despite a difficult season, then it would be a strong step in the right direction.