Aston Villa are at the final stage of closing a deal with a defender from a Championship side as Ezri Konsa’s replacement.
Aston Villa have been hunting for replacements for the key men who have departed and those who could be heading for the exit this week. After Ezri Konsa’s switch to Arsenal, Unai Emery’s side have been eyeing a number of targets from their Premier League rivals and European teams. However, the player they are now on the verge of signing actually comes from a second-tier side.
Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis has reportedly been close to parting ways with his current side. Villa have emerged as his preferred destination, as reported by TeamTalk.
“Talks have continued, and sources understand the two clubs are now close to an agreement. Personal terms have also been discussed with Harwood-Bellis, with the defender receptive to the move and a deal now moving towards a conclusion.”
Harwood-Bellis has been a quiet target for the Lions lately. They previously submitted an offer worth £18 million, but it was immediately rejected by the Saints.
Both clubs have remained in talks, and Villa have now made an improved offer. The new bid is reportedly worth £25 million. Before Villa entered the race, several teams had already shown interest in the 24-year-old centre-back. Benfica were among them and even made a concrete offer, but the Saints rejected it.
The Stockport-born defender has been part of Southampton’s squad since 2023. He helped his team return to the Premier League in his first season with the Saints. Sadly, Southampton were relegated back to the Championship after just one season in the top flight.
Last season, the centre-back, who has one international cap, featured in 43 games, scoring seven goals and providing three assists in the second tier. Overall, he has made 134 appearances, scoring 12 goals and providing seven assists in all competitions.
Based on data from FotMob, his form in the Premier League in 2024/25 was still quite impressive. His xG for a defender was 1.79 from 20 shooting attempts, eight of which were on target, while he scored once. His successful pass rate was 88.1%, with his accurate long-ball rate reaching 50.8%.
Harwood-Bellis had a 100% successful dribble rate while playing in the top flight, but his duel success rate was only 50.7%, which is relatively low for a centre-back. Interestingly, his rate in the Championship was not much different, reaching 60.8%.
Meanwhile, his defensive contribution was fairly solid. While playing in the Premier League, he made 28 tackles, 30 interceptions, 43 clearances and two blocked shots. Last season in the Championship, he recorded 36 tackles, 37 interceptions, 27 blocked shots and 304 clearances.
It remains to be seen whether he can be the perfect replacement for Konsa. Considering Villa’s woeful 4-0 defeat in the opening game and the disappointing performances of their two centre-backs, Pau Torres and Victor Lindelof, Emery will be hoping Harwood-Bellis can quickly settle in, fill the void left by Konsa and help shore up Villa’s defensive frailties.
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