Crystal Palace ‘plan to sign Harwood-Bellis after accepting Marc Guehi offer’…
Crystal Palace are planning to sign Southampton star Taylor Harwood-Bellis this summer as they look for a replacement for Marc Guehi.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that the 23-year-old is very much on Palace’s radar.
Meanwhile, the Eagles are prepared to accept offers for Guehi as he will have just 12 months remaining on his contract come the end of the season.
The likes of Liverpool and Arsenal want to sign Guehi this summer, while Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle have all had a long-held interest in the England defender.
As a result, Palace have already begun working to identify potential replacements for their captain and are targeting younger options for the position.
The Saints are all-but-certain to be relegated in the closing stages of the season, and Brown told Football Insider that Southampton are preparing for a summer exodus.
Tyler Dibling and Aaron Ramsdale have been heavily linked with moves away, while Harwood-Bellis is also expected to leave St Mary’s amid growing interest.
Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis
Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis has been linked with a move away. (Credit: Imago)
Taylor Harwood-Bellis backed to make Crystal Palace move
Football Insider revealed on 6 March that Southampton will demand £20million for Harwood-Bellis, who is keen to remain a Premier League player next season.
Brown, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, insisted that Crystal Palace would be the ideal destination for the defender to step up his game.
“Palace are going to accept offers for Guehi this summer,” he told Football Insider.
“When you lose somebody like Marc Guehi, he will take some replacing.
“But Palace are prepared for that, they’ve been working hard behind the scenes to identify potential replacements so they don’t get caught short.
“I don’t think Palace get the credit that’s due to them because they’re very well-organised.
“There are clear plans in place for the transfer windows, they look at who they want and who they might need to replace.
“Guehi has set a standard which Palace will find difficult to reach with his replacement.
“Harwood-Bellis is a good talent, a hard-worker and a leader, he’s captained England’s Under-21s side.
“He’s not perfect and I think he has a lot of room to improve, but he’s one Palace have been looking at.
“Marc Guehi went there after a spell with Swansea, he worked hard and he proved his quality, because Palace gave him the platform and patience to do that.
“They’re a good club in that regard, they give players the chance to make a name for themselves.
“I think it would be a good fit for Harwood-Bellis, so it’s a move that could work for both parties and it’s one I’m told Palace are interested in.”
Will Hughes, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Adam Wharton to stay at Palace
As Palace continue their preparations for potential departures this summer, there is also an emphasis on keeping their best players at the club.
Football Insider exclusively revealed on 13 March that Palace are in advanced talks with Will Hughes over a new deal at Selhurst Park, with just months remaining on his current terms.
The 29-year-old has established himself as a key part of Oliver Glasner’s side, and has made 30 appearances across all competitions so far this season.
This comes after Football Insider revealed that Crystal Palace are bracing for offers for Jean-Philippe Mateta, Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton as they plan to keep hold of their star men.
