Even if Taylor Harwood-Bellis stays, Southampton still need to sign a new defender.

Southampton may still need to strengthen their defence even if Taylor Harwood-Bellis remains at St Mary’s beyond the summer transfer window.

The England international started Southampton’s opening Championship fixture against Watford despite continued speculation linking him with a move to Benfica. The Portuguese giants remain interested in the centre-back, but Southampton would reportedly demand considerably more than the £17 million offer previously discussed before even considering his departure.

Watford v Southampton – Sky Bet Championship 2026/27 | Justin Setterfield/GettyImages

Harwood-Bellis’ involvement against Watford offered some encouragement that he could remain with the Saints, although his long-term future continues to attract plenty of attention.

Tonda Eckert remained relatively tight-lipped when questioned about the defender’s situation following Southampton’s 2-1 defeat at Vicarage Road. For now, Harwood-Bellis remains part of the manager’s plans, but the performance against Watford highlighted another issue that Southampton cannot ignore.

Even if their star centre-back stays, another central defender should arguably be high on the club’s recruitment agenda.

Harwood-Bellis did not have a poor game

From Harwood-Bellis’ perspective, the defeat to Watford will still have been frustrating.

The 24-year-old could not prevent Southampton from suffering an opening-day defeat, but it would be unfair to suggest that he was responsible for the loss.

There was an opportunity for him to have done more when Amin Nabizada scored Watford’s second goal. Harwood-Bellis could have closed down the youngster more quickly, although he was certainly not the only Southampton defender at fault.

Jack Stephens also struggled to deal with the situation and was particularly slow when attempting to stop the 19-year-old’s run.

The experienced defender was already under scrutiny after his sliced clearance contributed to Watford opening the scoring, meaning much of the defensive criticism should arguably have been directed towards the Southampton captain rather than Harwood-Bellis.

Harwood-Bellis even came close to becoming Southampton’s unlikely late hero.

Deep into stoppage time, he reacted to a long ball forward from Ryan Manning and found himself with a golden opportunity to equalise.

Unfortunately for the Saints, the centre-back could only steer his effort narrowly wide of the target.

Watford defender Hector Kyprianou appeared amused by the miss, while Harwood-Bellis himself looked devastated after failing to convert such a promising late opportunity.

That was particularly frustrating given that he scored seven Championship goals last season, demonstrating that he is capable of making an impact at both ends of the pitch.

Harwood-Bellis remains crucial

Despite the missed chance, it would be inaccurate to describe Harwood-Bellis’ performance as poor.

The centre-back won eight duels during the 90 minutes, showing that he was willing to compete physically throughout a difficult afternoon.

His presence was particularly important because Southampton’s defensive problems could have been considerably worse had he not been in the team.

That is precisely why the club should be reluctant to lose him without having an adequate replacement ready.

However, his importance also highlights another concern.

Even if Harwood-Bellis decides to remain on the south coast, Southampton still need to improve the quality around him.

The defensive partnership used against Watford appeared to have reached the end of its useful life, and relying on the same options throughout a demanding Championship campaign could leave Eckert’s side vulnerable.

Stephens remains a concern

One of the most surprising aspects of Southampton’s defensive situation is that Jack Stephens remains a regular part of the first-team plans.

The veteran defender has been an important servant to the club and has enjoyed periods of dependable form, but his performance against Watford raised fresh questions about whether he should continue starting regularly.

Stephens did contribute last season, helping Southampton record nine clean sheets across 32 Championship appearances.

However, his display at Vicarage Road was concerning.

The experienced defender won only two duels during the match, while Watford’s younger attacking players repeatedly appeared capable of causing problems.

That raises the possibility that Stephens could increasingly become a liability if Southampton continue relying on him against quick and energetic opposition.

The Saints cannot afford to make unnecessary mistakes, particularly because they have already been forced to begin the Championship season with a four-point deduction.

Every dropped point could prove significant when the club are attempting to recover from that initial disadvantage.

Southampton need another centre-back

Southampton have already shown a willingness to spend money in other areas of the squad.

The club have invested in attacking options, including Lewis Dobbin, while Divin Mubama has arrived on loan to provide another option in the final third.

However, the same urgency needs to be applied to the defence.

The Saints have reportedly shown interest in Anel Ahmedhodzic, and a move for the experienced centre-back could make sense.

Ahmedhodzic has previously demonstrated that he can perform effectively at Championship level and could provide the physicality, experience and defensive reliability Southampton need.

Bringing him in would also reduce the pressure on Harwood-Bellis and potentially allow Stephens to move down the pecking order.

Rather than being relied upon in every major fixture, Stephens could become a squad option capable of providing experience when required.

Stephens can still have a role

There is still value in keeping Stephens around the squad.

The 33-year-old has spent a considerable amount of time at Southampton and understands the club better than most players in the dressing room.

Eckert himself acknowledged during pre-season that the veteran “knows the club inside out”.

That type of experience can be useful, particularly for younger players who are still adapting to the demands of Championship football.

Stephens could therefore remain an important presence behind the scenes and provide cover when injuries or suspensions affect the team.

The argument is not necessarily that Southampton should get rid of him altogether.

Instead, his role should probably be adjusted.

At this stage of his career, asking Stephens to be a consistent starter in important Championship matches may not be the best option for either the player or the club.

Harwood-Bellis should remain the foundation

If Harwood-Bellis stays at Southampton, the club should build their defensive plans around him.

His age, experience and ability on the ball make him an important asset, while his goalscoring record also provides an additional threat from set pieces.

The ideal scenario would therefore be to partner him with a new centre-back capable of providing greater defensive stability.

That would allow Southampton to retain one of their most important players while addressing the weakness exposed against Watford.

It would also give Eckert more flexibility when selecting his back four throughout the season.

With Southampton already starting the campaign on minus four points, there is little room for repeated defensive mistakes.

The club need to make sure they have enough quality at the back to cope with the pressure of trying to climb the Championship table.

A defensive signing should be a priority

Harwood-Bellis’ future remains uncertain because of the continued interest from Benfica, but Southampton should not allow that situation to distract them from their wider defensive needs.

Even if the centre-back rejects the opportunity to leave and remains at St Mary’s, another defender appears necessary.

The defeat to Watford demonstrated that Southampton cannot afford to rely solely on existing options.

Stephens can still contribute through his experience and leadership, but a younger, more reliable partner for Harwood-Bellis would strengthen the team significantly.

If Southampton can secure a quality centre-back such as Ahmedhodzic while keeping Harwood-Bellis, they could transform the balance of their defence.

For now, the priority should be clear: keep their key defender if possible, reduce Stephens’ workload and invest in another proven centre-back.

With the points deduction already making promotion or a strong Championship campaign more difficult, Southampton simply cannot afford to leave an obvious weakness unresolved.