Again in 2022, I prompt on Twitter (now ‘X’) that Newcastle ought to signal Taylor Harwood-Bellis; a participant who has all of the instruments to be our long-term alternative for Fabian Schar.
On the time, he was a number of months into his mortgage transfer at Burnley and he had impressed me massively. Since then, he has gone on to safe a £25 million transfer to Southampton and has very not too long ago received a name as much as England’s senior squad, the place he rounded off the scoring simply moments after approaching with a debut purpose in opposition to the Republic of Eire.
Harwood-Bellis is a 22-year-old proper centre again, who stands at 6ft 2′. Undoubtedly, Taylor is without doubt one of the finest ball taking part in centre backs the nation has to supply, he finds him self within the high 97, 97 and 90 percentile for passes tried, go completion %, and progressive passes final season.
It’s completely no shock that managers like Vincent Kompany – who coached him at Burnley – and Russell Martin like him a lot, as he would enhance most sides in possession within the Premier League. It’s also his capacity with each toes which is so spectacular. Similar to Guehi, he’s so snug at breaking traces and taking part in progressive passes.
Now that’s sufficient of his in-possession qualities, what does Taylor provide with out the ball? He’s a entrance footed, aggressive centre again, which is strictly what we might be searching for from our proper centre again. His entrance footedness alongside Botman’s sweeping capacity would give us an ideal mix of qualities for a centre again pairing.
With Taylor, you don’t simply get a flashy modern-day centre again who’s superb on the ball, but in addition the soiled work as effectively. He is a good field defender; he’ll put his physique on the road and make final ditch tackles to avoid wasting his workforce. I wouldn’t say he’s quick, however he isn’t sluggish both. I additionally love his one-vs-one defending, the place he has that Van Dijk esc calmness about him in tough conditions. He doesn’t rush his motion and sometimes forces his opponent on their weaker facet.
His aerial capacity wants some work. If you happen to have a look at his FBREF web page, you’d be involved as his aerial numbers are worse than Schar’s, however I don’t assume that tells the total story. From the attention check, I don’t assume Taylor is just too dangerous within the air – not excellent, however I’d say he’s higher than Schar. Particularly in attacking situations, highlighted by his header on debut for England.
Total, I nonetheless stand by my assertion that Taylor Harwood-Bellis could be a superb signing for Newcastle. I feel he’s higher than Schar on the ball, he’s quicker and a little bit higher within the air. However most significantly, he can play both centre again position, he’s younger, English and has a “very excessive ceiling” as Russel Martin mentioned. He captained the U21’s to European Championship glory in the identical facet as Anthony Gordon and has received an England name up at 22 years of age.
He’s now not a threat like he was two years in the past – he’s an virtually assured success. Ought to Southampton go down, he’ll virtually definitely be picked up by a high Premier League facet and I sincerely hope it’s us.