West Ham and Crystal Palace tipped to battle for £20m international with 100% scoring record

West Ham will feel as though this season has been a poor year, as they sit 15th in the Premier League table, having flirted with relegation earlier in the year.

The Hammers are now 16 points from safety however, and in a secure position for next season, unlike bottom-of-the-league Southampton. The Saints have managed to pick up just nine points so far this season, making them contenders to break Derby County’s record for the least number of points in a Premier League season (11).

Their impending relegation could see a mass exodus of some of their top players, one of which has been linked to both West Ham and Crystal Palace.

Harwood-Bellis linked to West Ham and Palace move

Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis has been one of the few Southampton players who has impressed in the Premier League this season. His performances warranted an England call-up in November, when he came on and scored against Ireland in a 5-0 win during what was Lee Carsley’s last game in charge of the national team. He is keen to remain a Premier League player, and so is expected to make a summer transfer, with West Ham and Crystal Palace both interested according to Football Insider.

Their report says that Southampton want to recoup the £20 million transfer fee that they paid for Harwood-Bellis from Manchester City in the summer after he’d spent the previous year on loan at St Mary’s. West Ham and Palace are among the clubs preparing to make an offer for the 23-year-old in the transfer window. The Eagles could add him with the knowledge that defender Marc Guehi could be on his way out due to interest from Spurs, Chelsea and Newcastle.

Guehi was subject to a £70m bid from Tottenham in January, and previous bids from Newcastle last summer. It would be expected that the England international will receive interest this year too. Harwood-Bellis could be signed by Palace as a replacement for Guehi, who will likely command a hefty transfer fee.

West Ham interested in Harwood-Bellis’ Southampton teammate

Harwood-Bellis isn’t the only Southampton player that has reportedly attracted attention from the Hammers. They have also been linked with winger Tyler Dibling, alongside Tottenham with Southampton reportedly placing a £50 million price tag on him due to his sky-high potential as he’s aged just 19.

Dibling has made 23 appearances in the Premier League for Southampton this season, scoring two goals. He could become a replacement for Mohammed Kudus at West Ham, who has been subject to reported transfer interest from Liverpool and Arsenal in the past.

In other news, The FA have pushed for a lifetime ban for West Ham attacker Lucas Paqueta.