Southampton are top heavy in all areas, but they know that the earlier they sell a player, the earlier they will be able to plan properly for the coming season, one of those who seems likely to depart is Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
footballeagueworld are claiming that Taylor Harwood-Bellis could be about to make a return to the club he spent a season with on loan from Manchester City, before he arrived at Saints.
That club is Burnley who we have avoided playing in each of the last few seasons as both club's yo yo between the Championship and the Premier League.
With it being the Lancashire clubs turn to play in the Premier League, a recall for Taylor Harwood-Bellis is said to be on the cards.
What is unclear though is whether Burnley will be seeking a permanent deal or a loan move.
If they do go for a permanent deal then they will need to not only pay out a record fee, they will have to smash it, the £15 million they paid for Zeki Amdouni in 2023/24 is the most they have paid for a player so far and THB's release clause fee stand at £20 million, not to mention his wages.
That seems to suggest that they will be looking to get him on loan with perhaps an option to buy should they stay up.
They baulked at taking him on a permanent basis the last time they were promoted, but that was with a different manager and playing style and perhaps like his time at St Mary's under Russell Martin, THB could play the possession football game in the Championship, but not so much in the Premier League.
Another destination could also see him play in Claret & Blue, it's also said that West Ham are interested, however they will only come into the game if they sell a player in the central defensive position and need to fill a hole.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis did not have a great season in the Southampton defence last season, however that was not entirely his fault, firstly his partnership with Jan Bednarek was not a match made in heaven, put bluntly they were too similar as players, they did not have contrasting styles that complimented each other.
That did not bode well in Russell Martin's 100% passing game at the back, neither were comfortable with implementing it and that was the second problem.
It would be great if TBH was to stay, assuming that Jan Bednarek had departed he would be well suited to partner Ronnie Edwards in the centre of defence.