Nottingham Forest are interested in signing Manchester City defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis this summer.
That’s according to Alan Nixon, who says a number of top flight clubs are keen on the England U21s captain.
Harwood-Bellis – a graduate of City’s academy once described as ‘exceptional’ by Pep Guardiola – impressed on loan at Burnley last season.
Despite being a mainstay of Vincent Kompany’s side that stormed to promotion to the Premier League, it doesn’t look like the 21-year-old will be returning to Turf Moor this year.
Forest focus on Harwood-Bellis
According to Alan Nixon, Forest have identified Harwood-Bellis as a target as their search for a new centre-back goes on.
Steve Cooper is desperate to bolster his defence, and could take advantage of other clubs’ reluctance to meet City’s asking price.
The likes of Burnley, Fulham and West Ham have all been put off by Harwood-Bellis’ £15 million price tag, despite the fact he has two-and-half seasons of senior football experience under his belt following loan spells at Blackburn Rovers, Anderlecht, Stoke and Burnley.
With the £77.5m signing of Josko Gvardiol meaning Guardiola now has six senior centre-backs in his squad, there is little chance that youngster’s future lies at the Etihad Stadium.
Harwood-Bellis was not included in City’s squad for their pre-season tour in Japan and South Korea or the squad that won the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla this week.
The Stockport-born defender captained England to U21 European Championship glory in June, playing a key role alongside fellow City academy graduates Cole Palmer and James Trafford.
