Southampton make enquiry to sign youngster who could be another Taylor Harwood-Bellis

Southampton will want to keep hold of Taylor Harwood-Bellis past this summer as the number six is a dependable part of the Saints machine.

The one-time Manchester City youngster is a part of the furniture now at St. Mary's, with 133 appearances under his belt.

Arguably, he is one of the finest defenders in the entire Championship on his day, with ten goals and eight assists next to his name in the second tier, overall, alongside not shirking a tackle or a duel when required.

He has caught the eye of Benfica for his often flawless Championship displays, but currently, a deal looks unlikely, as the Portuguese giants have insulted Tonda Eckert and Co. with a £17m bid.

If the Saints can get £30m out of Fulham for Shea Charles, they can get a lot more out of the Lisbon titans.

There will be a worry in the air that Harwood-Bellis could leave for the Eagles before the window closes, however, with a young defender now eyed up by the South Coast side, allegedly.

The young defender linked with a St Mary's move

This development is likely unrelated to the revelation that Benfica is interested in a move for the 24-year-old.

Indeed, it would be absurd to suggest that Southampton would be looking to replace a defender of Harwood-Bellis' Championship experience with Godwill Kukonki, who is only 18 years of age.

Manchester Evening News journalist Steven Railston, who specialises on all things Red Devils, has reported that the Saints have a loan enquiry for the teenage Manchester United defender, with other second tier clubs also taking a look at the three-time England U19 international.

This is a transfer link that has emerged suddenly, with sections of the Southampton fanbase likely confused why their club is chasing after such a raw defender, when they have the likes of Joshua Quarshie in reserve.

But, adding in Kukonki could be the start of the 18-year-old maturing, away from being stuck in his Old Trafford bubble, as a new Harwood-Bellis potentially comes to the surface in the Stoke-on-Trent born starlet.

He could be another Harwood-Bellis

Before becoming a St.Mary's regular, Harwood-Bellis also had to make do with some formative loan switches, like Kukonki could be about to receive on the South Coast.

Indeed, alongside notching up 71 youth appearances at City, he would be chucked out on loan to the likes of Blackburn Rovers, Anderlecht, and Stoke City, with these mini moves away from the Etihad getting him up to speed with what is expected of him in the hustle and bustle of the men's game.

Looking back, Harwood-Bellis will no doubt view all these loan detours in quick succession as being key in turning himself into a defender Eckert can depend on at Southampton.

In July 2024, when signing permanently for the Saints, he even stated that he had "learned a great deal" about himself in several loan environments.

Kukonki will likely not be a first-team regular if he were to join, but Harwood-Bellis only managed 19 Blackburn appearances during his loan stint at Ewood Park, and it would still have been beneficial for him developmentally.

Harwood-Bellis' loan numbers before the Saints:

Like the Saints number six at an early age at the Etihad, Kukonki is also very highly thought of by his United peers, with Ruben Amorim even including him in first-team training at United when he was just 16.

The time will feel right for the 18-year-old to spread his wings, though, and gain some Championship exposure, as that proved to be the making of Harwood-Bellis, who has forged out a very successful EFL career for himself.

Kukonki will, of course, want to make it at United, but if he impressed in the second tier this coming season with the Saints, or any of the other clubs keen on his loan services, he could become another Harwood-Bellis down the line who bounces back, even if they're dropped by their elite Premier League employers.

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