Southampton’s plans in the summer transfer window will drastically change depending on whether they are promoted this season or not.
In a season that has included a record-breaking 25 game unbeaten run in all competitions, Russell Martin‘s side are now outsiders for the automatic promotion spots as they find themselves behind Leeds United, Ipswich Town and Leicester City.
Should they fail to secure a top two finish, they will of course have the fallback of the play-offs, but this is something of a lottery given how much is riding on each game.
The worry for Southampton is that not only could missing out on promotion mean they may not be able to sign the calibre of player they would like, it may also mean they lose some of their better players in the summer.
Southampton could lose Taylor Harwood-Bellis unless they are promoted
One such player is 22-year-old central defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
The youngster is currently on a season-long loan from Manchester City, but the two clubs negotiated a £20 million obligation to buy should Southampton secure promotion this season.
Unsurprisingly, given how impressive Harwood-Bellis was on loan for Burnley as they stormed to the Championship title last season, the England under-21 captain has been imperious for Southampton this season.
With captain Jack Stephens having missed much of the campaign through injury, Harwood-Bellis and Jan Bednarek have formed an impressive partnership at the heart of the Saints defence, particularly as the side went on a run of conceding just 16 goals in 22 league games between the end of September and the beginning of February.
Given that Southampton lose their obligation to buy if they miss out on an instant return to the Premier League, combined with Harwood-Bellis’ ever-growing stock, it is almost unthinkable that the St Mary’s club will be able to complete the signing permanently as a Championship club.
Harwood-Bellis is a ready-made Premier League defender and has ambitions to match, whilst Southampton simply could not afford the ex-Blackburn Rovers loanee without the financial rewards of promotion.
Russell Martin on Harwood-Bellis Southampton future
Harwood-Bellis is a modern defender who is extremely comfortable on the ball owing to his footballing education at City, however he also enjoys the physical side of the game and reads the game very well for a defender so young.
Southampton boss Martin is clearly a big fan, having started the centre-back in 30 of the 31 league games he has been available for; although it has been somewhat surprising that he has shifted Harwood-Bellis from his favoured position to play as a right-back in the last three league games in order to accommodate Stephens.
As well as his defensive work, Harwood-Bellis has contributed with two goals and three assists in all competitions this season, and Martin is aware that without promotion he is unlikely to stay at the south coast club.
Speaking about Harwood-Bellis after Southampton’s 2-1 victory over Plymouth Argyle in December, Martin said: “He’s been fantastic. Let’s get it right, we need to go up to keep a lot of our players,”
“Otherwise it would be an interesting summer. Obviously, the incentive is to get this club back to where it belongs.
“We need to repay the patience that the supporters have given us. But we also want to keep some of the players that the supporters love.
“We have so many top young players that if we don’t quite get there then maybe they get there some other place – which won’t be the best for us.”
With ten games remaining, Southampton are playing not just for promotion but to ensure the futures of Harwood-Bellis and likely a number of other key figures.
