Manchester City standing firm with £15 million valuation of West Ham and Fulham transfer target
Manchester City continue to demand £15 million for Taylor Harwood-Bellis, with three clubs interested in signing the Englishman this summer.
The 21-year-old is out of contract at the Etihad Stadium in 2024, and hasn’t featured for the Manchester City first-team for two years, following four successive loan spells away from the Premier League champions.
Harwood-Bellis spent the last campaign with Vincent Kompany’s Burnley, having previously worked under the Belgian manager at RSC Anderlecht.
The England U21 international has also spent time at Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City, but is yet to find a club for the 2023/24 season
Harwood-Bellis captained the England U21’s to European Championship glory during the summer, featuring alongside fellow City Football Academy graduates James Trafford, Tommy Doyle and Cole Palmer.
Trafford has moved to Burnley for £19 million, meanwhile Palmer could leave Manchester City on loan; although Pep Guardiola is keen to keep the forward at the club for the new season.
Manchester City have also agreed the sales of Carlos Borges and Shea Charles this summer, but the club are standing firm with their valuation of Harwood-Bellis, despite the 21-year-old entering the final 12 months of his current contract.
The Sky Blues’ £15 million valuation has resulted in Burnley choosing not to sign the defender on a permanent deal, according to Alan Nixon.
Harwood-Bellis made 35 appearances for the Clarets last season.
City are ‘adamant’ about their price tag, and are standing by their valuation due to the potential for the centre-back to sign for a Premier League rival on a free transfer next summer.
Nixon further reports that Premier League pair West Ham and Fulham are ‘keen’ on signing the defender, as are Sky Bet Championship side Leeds United.
David Moyes is armed with a sizeable £105 million to invest in his Hammers squad following the departure of Declan Rice, although the West London club have been linked with Manchester United’s Harry Maguire.
Newcastle United, who will be competing in the Champions League this season, have also previously been linked with Harwood-Bellis, as have a number of Championship clubs.