Manchester City has seen a number of academy products leave this summer yet again. Talented winger Carlos Borges has joined Ajax permanently, as has Adedire Mebude, who’s joined Belgian side Westerlo. Shea Charles has joined Southampton, while Morgan Rogers has departed for Middlesbrough. The academy has even seen players leave for other Premier League clubs, as James Trafford has joined Burnley.
Manchester City still has decisions to make on the likes of Tommy Doyle, James McAtee and defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis. One of these players is admired by a trio of Championship clubs. John Percy of The Telegraph is reporting that Southampton, Leeds United and Leicester City have all made Taylor Harwood-Bellis a loan target this summer. Percy states that Manchester City are willing to sell the player this summer for the right offer.
Harwood-Bellis spent last season on loan at Championship winners Burnley where he was an integral part of their success. Harwood-Bellis has had previous loan spells at Stoke City, Blackburn Rovers and Anderlecht. The 21-year-old defender is unlikely to play a part in Pep Guardiola’s plans this upcoming season, making him almost a lock to leave either on loan or permanently.
Harwood-Bellis took home some silverware this summer. Alongside City teammates Tommy Doyle and Cole Palmer, Harwood-Bellis won the U21 Euros with England, where he captained the side to victory. Born in Stockport, Harwood-Bellis grew up near Etihad Stadium and joined the Manchester City academy at age six.
While Southampton, Leeds and Leicester all have varying levels of need in the centre-back position, Harwood-Bellis would be a key contributor to each team. Looking at connections, Leicester manager Enzo Maresca is a former coach of Harwood-Bellis, having coached him at the academy level at City. For Southampton, director of football Jason Wilcox helped Harwood-Bellis progress through the academy where he was the academy director of Manchester City.