Taylor Harwood-Bellis transfer hint drops as Aston Villa make offer

Aston Villa are keen on bringing in Taylor Harwood-Bellis from Southampton.

There is a desperate need in B6 to bring in a replacement for Ezri Konsa, and quick.

The England international departed Villa Park on Friday to join Arsenal for over £50million.

That represents a good fee for the Villans, but does open up a gaping hole in their backline as the Premier League season looks set to get underway.

Various names have been linked with filling that void as Villa go in search of a new centre-back signing.

Harwood-Bellis has seen the strongest links at this stage and could be set to take a step closer to a Villa switch.

Southampton make telling Taylor Harwood-Bellis decision

There has been plenty of noise surrounding the 24-year-old this week.

The departure of the ex-Brentford man from the Midlands has sparked plenty of discussions for the Southampton man.

He has been key to everything good under Tonda Eckert in recent months and has proved his quality in the second tier.

That appears to have caught the eye of Unai Emery as a move appears to be gathering pace.

Southampton have now dropped a massive clue that could point towards a deal being close.

Harwood-Bellis hasn't been named within their matchday squad as they prepare to face Stoke City on Saturday.

That was seemingly expected on the south coast and suggests that a move could be imminent.

How much could Aston Villa pay for Harwood-Bellis?

It seems as if the 2002-born ace is the go-to target for the Villans at this stage of the summer.

There is just limited time to get a deal done, especially given an offer has already been turned down.

Southampton reportedly rejected a fee in the region of £18million in the week, giving Villa a base from which to work from.

The Saints are said to want closer to £25m for Harwood-Bellis before the window slams shut.

It may take that sort of bid for the Villans to bring him in with such little time remaining to make a move work.