Former Hammer Rob Green has told David Sullivan to pay what it takes to sign Taylor Harwood-Bellis from Southampton as their manager confirms they’d be getting someone who is top class.
West Ham saw a £12.5m bid for Taylor Harwood-Bellis rejected by Southampton heading into the weekend.
That was after talks over a loan deal with Chelsea for Axel Disasi hit difficulties.
England centre-back Harwood-Bellis has been a Hammers target since this time last year but he remained with Saints in the Championship.
There has been plenty of business between West Ham and Southampton in recent times, so lines of communication are well established between the two clubs.
West Ham weigh up fresh bid for Harwood-Bellis
James Ward-Prowse, Mateus Fernandes, Flynn Downes, Maxwel Cornet and Kyle Walker-Peters have all moved between the two clubs.
There is now just one day left to find out whether Harwood-Bellis will join that list.
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West Ham have signed four attacking players in the January transfer window.
Fans, pundits and journalists can’t believe the club has not addressed the team’s glaring weakness at the back.
Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis has been linked with a move to West Ham
Photo by Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images
West Ham have the worst defence in the Premier League, shipping two goals per game on average to leave them staring relegation in the face.
With Jean-Clair Todibo getting himself banned for three games with a brainless sending off at Chelsea, the need for a new defender has become even more acute ahead of the window closing at 7pm on Monday night.
Harwood-Bellis is a client of agent Will Salthouse, who is very close to West Ham chief David Sullivan and his sons.
That suggests the Hammers would have been given some inside knowledge that a deal might be possible with Saints and that the player is up for the move.
However, reports have claimed that West Ham are unlikely to make a new offer for Harwood-Bellis after their opening bid was rejected.
Green tells Sullivan to pay up for Harwood-Bellis
Whether that is brinkmanship remains to be seen.
But one former Hammer has left the club’s majority owner in no doubt about what he must do.
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West Ham United's Portuguese head coach Nuno Espírito Santo gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge in London on January 31, 2026.
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Rob Green has told Sullivan to pay up to save West Ham as Southampton’s manager raves about Harwood-Bellis.
Speaking on Sky Sports, ex Hammers ‘keeper Green says Harwood-Bellis would be an improvement on their current centre-backs.
Saints boss raves about ‘outstanding’ West Ham target
And he urged the West Ham board to use the Lucas Paqueta money to pay what it takes to sign the former Man City Academy graduate.
“If you use it (some of the Paqueta money) to spend on Harwood-Bellis then he’d be an improvement to your starting XI, that’s it, there’s your point,” Green said on Sky Sports.
“You’re stepping forward and saying ‘who can we take who will improve the side, we need someone for now’.
“The key area has been centre-forward and centre-half. They’ve addressed the centre-forward, now they need a centre-half.
“It’s screaming out for it, the fans know it, everyone knows it, they’re looking for just that little bit of extra quality.”
If Sullivan needed any further endorsement, it came by the bucketload from Harwood-Bellis’ manager Tonda Eckert.
Eckert: Harwood-Bellis the ultimate professional amid West Ham links
The Saints boss praised ‘outstanding’ Harwood-Bellis for playing against Stoke despite the West Ham rumours and said he is a rarity in the modern game.
“Taylor is an ultimate professional,” Eckert told the press after the game, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
“I think you don’t find many like him in the game. The quality to block the noise at the moment.
“I think he was outstanding today. The first pass that he played for Tom (Fellows), there’s not many in the league that can do that. Outstanding player.”
The problem for West Ham is that Todibo’s suspension and Disasi’s desire to join AC Milan means Southampton hold the much stronger bargaining position.
However, the 14th placed Saints look highly unlikely to be promoted back to the Premier League this season meaning they will have to cut their cloth accordingly and may feel they have to take a reasonable offer if West Ham return to the negotiating table.
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