Leeds United’s pursuit of Taylor Harwood-Bellis has been handed a potential boost with West Ham instead targeting a move for Manchester United’s Harry Maguire.
According to Leeds Live, West Ham are one of the Premier League sides rivalling Leeds for Harwood-Bellis this summer but now appear to have switched their attention elsewhere.
As per Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth, the Hammers saw a £30 million offer rejected by Man United for Maguire earlier this week.
However, in another update by Sheth on Tuesday afternoon, the two clubs are now close to reaching a compromise on a fee with the England international David Moyes’ first choice target at centre-back.
With Kurt Zouma, Angelo Ogbonna and Nayef Aguerd already at his disposal in central defence, spending in excess of £30 million on Maguire would surely be the end of their interest in Harwood-Bellis.
Leeds handed potential boost in Harwood-Bellis pursuit as West Ham close on Maguire
Leeds are currently prioritising the addition of a new centre-back and Harwood-Bellis is among the names that have been considered by the Whites.
Liverpool’s Nat Phillips and AZ Alkmaar’s Pantelis Chatzidiakos have also been linked, but Harwood-Bellis would represent significantly better business than either of those two.
Harwood-Bellis is back at Manchester City after a loan spell at Burnley last season and while Pep Guardiola regards him as a ‘brilliant’ talent, is not going to get a look in at the Etihad given the options they have at centre back.
City are set to command around £15 million for the 21-year-old, but as per Leeds Live, the Whites could also look to explore a loan deal, though that would require him to sign a new contract.
With all that in mind, though, there is no doubt Leeds’ path to signing him would be clearer if Maguire gets done as expected.
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