Stoke City are heading the chase for Manchester City defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis in this transfer window.
The 19-year-old Blues starlet is currently on loan with Vincent Kompany ’s Anderlecht but has had limited playing time since he turned out for England under-21s in November.
Harwood-Bellis had a bright start to life in Belgium, establishing himself as a first-choice starter under Kompany, who had personally requested the loan in the summer, and alongside former Southampton centre back Wesley Hoedt.
But after a trip to Georgia to play for England under-21s in November, when the plane was unavoidably delayed for 24 hours in Istanbul after a technical problem, Harwood-Bellis lost his place to on-loan Argentine defender Lisandro Magallan, and has played just 12 minutes since.
With Belgium international Hannes Delcroix due back after missing the start of the season through knee surgery, Harwood-Bellis could be fourth choice, and that will not suit either the player or City, who agreed the loan to give him experience and allow him to grow under Kompany’s watchful eye.
City appear to be open to ending the Anderlecht loan in the current window and sending the youngster out to a Championship club - he spent last season gaining experience at Blackburn, where he made 19 appearances.
Stoke are believed to be the strongest contenders to pick up the Stockport-born stopper, as they seek to strengthen their challenge for a play-off place, but no final decision has been taken on what happens next.
Harwood-Bellis burst onto the City scene in 2019, when he was a key part of the FA Youth Cup-winning side, impressed Guardiola on the far-east tour in the summer and was moved up into the first-team squad, where he made four appearances and scored his first senior City goal in an FA Cup win over Port Vale.
