Regardless of whether Axel Disasi stays or goes, West Ham United will surely be in the market for another central defensive signing during the summer of 2026.
Chelsea loanee Disasi had a rare off-day at Villa Park on Sunday, but his impact on the Hammers’ survival prospects has been nothing short of colossal.
Still, as Max Kilman faces a seemingly inevitable summer departure, and with speculation over Jean-Clair Todibo never too far away, Axel Disasi is unlikely to be the only defender West Ham United pursue with a permanent deal in mind.
They say never fall in love with a loan player, but we’ve all done it before 😂
A graphic asking West Ham United fans when they last loved a loan player as much as Axel Disasi.
Credit; Getty Images/Izzy Poles – AMA
And Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ return to form at promotion-seeking Southampton means the one-time England international should be expected to feature prominently in any transfer window discussions at the London Stadium.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis showing why West Ham United bid for him
Hammers News can confirm that Southampton rejected a £12.5 million bid from West Ham towards the close of the winter window, and the subsequent deadline day arrival of Disasi.
There was plenty of scoffing and many an eyebrow raised. Harwood-Bellis is a client of Will Salthouse, after all; an agent who is very close with West Ham chief David Sullivan and his sons.
Furthermore, as Southampton reporter Alfie House explained, not only was that £12.5 million offer well below the Saints’ asking price, it was also ‘typical’ of West Ham to try and spread out the payments over a number of years.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis playing for Southampton against Hull City.
Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images
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Still, as Harwood-Bellis helps put Southampton in the conversation for an automatic promotion spot, it is safe to assume the Hammers’ interest is unlikely to have waned.
The Saints slipped to 15th when they lost at home to Hull City in mid-January. Coincidentally, the same day that Callum Wilson scored a stoppage time winner at Tottenham Hotspur. Only six Premier League sides have picked up more points than the Hammers since then, while Southampton have also come on leaps and bounds in the last two months.
Saturday’s 2-0 win at home to Oxford was their ninth in 12 Championship games. Across all competitions, a fourteen-game unbeaten run in which Tonder Eckert’s side have collected seven clean sheets and Harwood-Bellis has played every single minute.
“Taylor is an ultimate professional,” boss Eckert said after the Man City academy graduate closed his ears to that West Ham bid and delivered an outstanding performance in a victory over Stoke recently.
“I think you don’t find many like him in the game. The quality to block the noise at the moment. 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.”
Harwood-Bellis is showing why we bid £12.5m for him! 💰
But who is your DREAM defender signing this summer?
Taylor Harwood-Bellis of Southampton celebrates his sides victory with fans during the Sky Bet Championship match between Coventry City and Southampton at The Coventry Building Society Arena on March 14, 2026 in Coventry, England.
England international thinks he’s improved a lot at Southampton
This would not be the first time Harwood-Bellis provided a key contribution in the attacking third.
Pep Guardiola highlighted Harwood-Bellis ‘incredible threat’ from set-pieces and called him Southampton’s ‘composer’ in possession during a 2024 clash with the defender’s old employers. In addition to scoring five goals this season, Harwood-Bellis has two assists. The defence-splitting through ball in the build-up to Southampton’s opener against Oxford was one a prime-John Stones himself would have been proud of.
According to reports, West Ham could land Disasi for around £20 million this summer. Southampton are likely to demand a similar fee for Harwood-Bellis, or even higher if the Championship’s form team succeed in cutting down the eight-point gap between themselves and Middlesbrough in second.
“With the run we’re on, winning breeds winning,” Harwood-Bellis told BBC Radio Solent in the midst of a 14-game unbeaten streak.
“The maturity in the group has grown over the last year and there’s been loads of learning. Even for myself personally, there’s a maturity to my game that I’m still working on.”
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