"I'm not sure" - Southampton FC, Taylor Harwood-Bellis exit fear played down as Burnley circle | OneFootball

The Clarest reportedly want to bring the former loanee back to Lancashire for their return to the Premier League.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Burnley reportedly want to sign Southampton centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis this summer.

The former Manchester City academy member achieved a Championship promotion while on loan at Turf Moor before repeating such a move with the Saints in the 2023/24 campaign.

Burnley didn't opt to sign Harwood-Bellis in the summer after his spell with Vincent Kompany's side. Following their promotion, Southampton were obligated to pay the £20 million asking price that Man City had set as part of their loan deal.

His first full season as a Premier League player wasn't as successful as he would have liked, even though the odds were very much stacked against him and everyone else at St Mary's, but he may be presented with a second chance in the top flight this summer as the Clarets are keen to have him back, according to Alan Nixon. West Ham are also reported to be interested.

Harwood-Bellis not ready for a Premier League return

It's hard for Martin Sanders, Football League World's Saints fan pundit, to see Harwood-Bellis moving back to Turf Moor as part of any loan deal, as Nixon suggests is the more likely option, with a view to buying him at the end of it.

"I saw this one today and it's an interesting one, actually, because he had that spell there when they got promoted in 22/23 under Vincent Kompany, and they opted not to sign him for a reason," Sanders said.

"Obviously he came to Southampton and had a really good season with us. He did really well in the Championship and was a key figure in the backline, but he really struggled in the Premier League last season. Whether that was because the team wasn't good enough and wasn't playing well enough; he just wasn't quite ready for the Premier League.

"I think he has got a long way to go to play at that level. I believe that he needs to play next to someone that has a bit of pace. He's not the quickest.

"He's a really good player. I like him a lot. I feel I'd rather see him playing in our side next season than not, however it would cost any club £20 million or more to let him go. I saw that the deal today was talking about a potential loan. I don't see it being enough money for us to want to loan him. If he's going to go anywhere, he'd be sold.

"West Ham were very interested as well. He's got an agent; he changed agents in January. Ever since that agent came in, he's seemed busy to me.

"He's obviously trying to get him a move, trying to drum up interest, but I'm not sure if Burnley will be his destination."

Burnley is an unlikely destination for Taylor Harwood-Bellis at this point

Harwood-Bellis signed a four-year deal when he permanently moved to St Mary's last summer. Southampton are under absolutely no pressure to offload him this summer, and that will make it very hard for a club like Burnley to get him.

Plus, will a return to Turf Moor be that beneficial for the 23-year-old? He knows firsthand, now, how difficult it currently is to retain your Premier League status following promotion. There's every chance that Burnley and Southampton will swap places again in a year's time, and possibly the same again the year after that. At least with a West Ham, for example, there's a much higher chance of stability.