Southampton ace likely to stay despite Premier League interest as £15m teammate eyes exit

Southampton are expected to resist any January approaches for defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis, despite growing interest from Premier League clubs, according to reports from Football League World.

The Saints entered the 2025–26 campaign hoping to be firmly involved in the Championship promotion picture following their relegation from the Premier League last season. However, those ambitions have yet to materialise, with the club enduring a frustrating and underwhelming league campaign so far.

A much-needed 1–0 victory over Sheffield United at St Mary’s on Wednesday night brought an end to a seven-match winless run in the league. While the result provided some relief, it only lifted Southampton to 15th place in the table, leaving them with significant work to do if they are to push towards the playoff positions in the second half of the season.

Head coach Tonda Eckert and the club’s hierarchy understand that a strong run of form is essential if they are to revive their promotion hopes. As a result, retaining key players during the January transfer window is viewed as critical, particularly those who could attract interest from higher up the football pyramid.

One such player is Taylor Harwood-Bellis. Despite Southampton’s struggles, the 23-year-old centre-back has continued to attract attention from Premier League sides. Football League World reports that several top-flight clubs have been monitoring the England international’s performances closely throughout the season.

Although interest is growing, the current expectation is that Harwood-Bellis will remain on the south coast until at least the summer. Southampton are believed to be unwilling to sanction a mid-season departure, especially with promotion still mathematically possible. However, should the Saints fail to secure a return to the Premier League by the end of the campaign, they could face a difficult battle to keep hold of the defender beyond May.

Harwood-Bellis initially joined Southampton from Manchester City on loan in the summer of 2023, with the deal including a £20 million obligation to buy. That clause was triggered when Saints secured promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt, defeating Leeds United in the Championship playoff final at Wembley.

The defender played a key role in that promotion campaign, but life in the top flight proved far more challenging. Southampton endured a difficult Premier League season, finishing with just 12 points, and Harwood-Bellis, like many of his teammates, found it hard to cope with the demands of elite-level football.

Defensive issues have persisted this season, with Saints conceding 40 goals in 28 Championship matches. Despite that, Harwood-Bellis has remained a regular figure in the starting XI, featuring in 23 league games so far. Wednesday night’s clean sheet against Sheffield United offered a welcome boost, particularly ahead of Sunday’s highly anticipated south coast derby against Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

While Harwood-Bellis appears set to stay put for now, uncertainty surrounds the future of striker Adam Armstrong. Reports suggest the forward is weighing up his options ahead of the January transfer deadline on February 2.

Journalist Rudy Galetti has claimed that Armstrong, currently the Championship’s leading goalscorer, is considering whether it is time to pursue a new challenge away from St Mary’s. The 28-year-old is said to be open to a move and is assessing his next steps after spending his entire professional career in England.

Armstrong joined Southampton from Blackburn Rovers in 2021 for a fee believed to be around £15 million. He has been a standout performer during the club’s two Championship campaigns, consistently delivering goals at this level.

However, the striker has struggled to replicate that form in the Premier League, finding it difficult to score regularly against top-flight opposition. That limitation has raised questions about his long-term role at the club, particularly if Southampton remain outside the promotion places.

Armstrong’s situation has been further complicated by recent team selections. He has started just one of Southampton’s last three matches, with his most recent goals coming in the dramatic 3–2 victory over West Bromwich Albion on December 9.

Despite the speculation, Armstrong will be hoping to reclaim his place in the starting lineup for Sunday’s derby against Portsmouth, a fixture that could prove pivotal for both the club’s season and his immediate future.

As the transfer window progresses, Southampton face important decisions. Keeping Harwood-Bellis could be vital to any late promotion push, while Armstrong’s potential departure would signal a significant shift in the squad’s makeup. The coming weeks may define not only the remainder of the season, but also the club’s direction moving forward.

Birmingham City splash major cash to land fourth winter arrival

Birmingham City have continued their aggressive January recruitment by completing the signing of Danish striker August Priske, making him their fourth addition of the winter transfer window.

The Blues have finalised a deal with Swedish outfit Djurgårdens IF, agreeing a fee believed to be in the region of £6 million to secure the highly rated forward. Priske has committed his future to the club by signing a five-and-a-half-year contract, keeping him at St Andrew’s until the summer of 2031.

Birmingham City have signed striker August Priske

At just 21 years old, Priske arrives with a growing reputation after an outstanding season in Sweden. He finished as top scorer in the Allsvenskan, netting 18 goals in 27 league appearances, and played a key role in Djurgårdens’ impressive domestic campaign. His transfer represents the second-largest sale in the Swedish club’s history, surpassed only by Lucas Bergvall’s move to Tottenham Hotspur 18 months ago.

Birmingham faced stiff competition from clubs across Europe to land the striker but ultimately won the race, underlining their ambition and willingness to invest heavily in the squad. The club’s hierarchy are hopeful Priske can adapt quickly and make an immediate impact in the Championship, where goals remain crucial as the season enters its decisive phase.

Head coach Chris Davies had been keen to add another option at centre-forward, and Priske fits the brief both physically and stylistically. Standing at 6ft 4in, the Danish forward offers a different profile to Birmingham’s existing attacking options and provides a strong alternative to Marvin Ducksch and Kyogo Furuhashi. His presence is expected to add variety to the Blues’ attacking approach, particularly against deep or physical opposition.

Priske is no stranger to the international stage either, having represented Denmark up to under-21 level. He also brings experience of European competition, featuring for Djurgårdens during their memorable run to the Europa Conference League semi-finals last season, where they were eventually eliminated by Chelsea, the tournament’s eventual winners.

The striker becomes the latest arrival in what has been a busy and productive January for Birmingham City. He follows Kai Wagner, Jhon Solis, and Ibrahim Osman through the door, further strengthening a squad that is clearly being reshaped with both the present and future in mind.

With the transfer window still open, Birmingham’s recruitment so far signals serious intent, as the club look to build momentum and push on in the second half of the campaign. Priske’s signing, in particular, stands out as a long-term investment with the potential to deliver immediate rewards if he can translate his prolific scoring form to English football.

The BirminghamLive football team will continue to provide comprehensive coverage of the Blues, with reporters Alex Dicken and Brian Dick following the club closely across matches, press conferences, and all key transfer developments.

Birmingham City near shock loan move for £16m Premier League attacker

Birmingham City are reportedly close to signing Brighton & Hove Albion winger Ibrahim Osman on loan. | Getty Images

Birmingham City are reportedly close to completing a somewhat unexpected loan move for a Premier League attacker, with Brighton & Hove Albion winger Ibrahim Osman set to join the Championship side for the remainder of the season.

According to the latest reports, Birmingham and Brighton have reached an agreement over a six-month loan deal that would see the highly rated but still unproven winger arrive at St Andrew’s. The Blues have been keen to strengthen their wide options during the January window, particularly following the departure of Keshi Anderson, and attention has now firmly shifted towards the loan market.

Birmingham had previously attempted to sign Mjällby forward Abdoulie Manneh, but that deal collapsed late on, forcing the club to reassess its options. Turning to Premier League loans has proven effective in the past, most notably with the summer arrival of Patrick Roberts from Sunderland, although such moves inevitably come with an element of risk.

Osman fits that description. While he remains a player of considerable potential, he has yet to establish himself at the highest level and is still regarded as a raw prospect. Despite Brighton’s significant investment in him, he has not yet made a competitive senior appearance for the Seagulls.

A report from The Brighton Base claims Birmingham are “closing in” on securing Osman’s services, with Brighton set to terminate his current loan spell at French side Auxerre before sanctioning a move to the Championship. Auxerre had included an option to buy in their loan agreement, but that clause now appears unlikely to be activated.

The Ghana international joined Brighton in 2024 after a standout period in Denmark with Nordsjaelland, a move that reportedly cost the Premier League club around £16 million. However, his transition to English football has not been straightforward. Last season, Osman spent time on loan at Feyenoord, where he was mostly used as an impact substitute. A similar pattern has followed him in Ligue 1, with limited starts and opportunities to build momentum.

Despite those setbacks, Birmingham will believe there is untapped quality waiting to be unlocked. Osman is comfortable operating on either wing and can also fill in as a central forward if required. That positional flexibility could be particularly valuable for head coach Chris Davies, offering tactical options and added depth in attacking areas.

In addition to his versatility, Osman’s pace and physicality suggest he has the tools to influence games quickly, something Birmingham have occasionally lacked in wide positions. The hope will be that regular minutes in the Championship provide the platform he needs to rediscover confidence and rhythm.

Questions remain about why Osman has yet to fully deliver on his promise since leaving Denmark, but such uncertainty is often part of loan deals involving Premier League clubs. For Birmingham, the gamble lies in whether they can provide the right environment for the winger to flourish.

The Blues will also be mindful of recent mixed experiences with Brighton loanees. Defender Eiran Cashin struggled for game time before being recalled earlier this month, while goalkeeper James Beadle has enjoyed far greater success, cementing himself as the club’s first-choice keeper ahead of Ryan Allsop.

As negotiations continue, Birmingham supporters will be watching closely. Whether Osman proves to be a shrewd addition or another short-term experiment remains to be seen, but the potential upside makes this a deal worth monitoring as the transfer window progresses.