Reported Leeds United target Taylor Harwood-Bellis is a “warrior” and dreams of making a name for himself at parent club Manchester City, Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray has told iFollow Rovers.
However, it almost goes without saying this would be easier said than done.
If Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake, two proven, top-quality centre-halves who set Man City back about £97 million can’t force their way into Pep Guardiola’s starting XI, what chance does Harwood-Bellis have?
Guardiola is a big fan of the Stockport-born 19-year-old – he admitted as much in 2019.
But while Harwood-Bellis wants to follow in the footsteps of Phil Foden rather than Jadon Sancho and shine in the sky blue of his boyhood club, the teenager may have a difficult decision to make as Leeds, Brighton and Hove Albion, and a host of Bundesliga clubs queue up to offer him an alternative route (Manchester Evening News).
Harwood-Bellis has impressed in his 11 Championship appearances since joining Blackburn on loan in January.
And, according to Mowbray, the England U20 international is determined to make his mark at Man City despite interest from the likes of Leeds.
“He wants to play for Manchester City and that’s the challenge in his career,” says the former Celtic and Middlesbrough manager.
“Taylor has a defensive instinct, a warrior attitude, and he’s someone who wants to win headers and tackles. He wants to engage, he’s composed on the ball and has a lot of really good attributes.”
It remains to be seen whether Man City would be willing to sell Harwood-Bellis to Leeds. Instead, a short-term loan deal – to assess whether the youngster can adapt to life in the Premier League – may suit all parties down to the ground.
It hasn’t done Jack Harrison any harm after all.
If Harwood-Bellis really wants to follow in Foden’s footsteps, a loan spell under Marcelo Bielsa could be the making of him.
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