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West Ham United now know exactly what it will take to sign Southampton's Taylor Harwood-Bellis. And while £25m is a lot of money for a Championship club to spend on a centre-back, this is one deal that would make an enormous amount of sense. The Hammers have tracked the 24-year-old throughout the summer as uncertainty continues to surround Jean-Clair Todibo's future and Axel Disasi closes in on a move to Crystal Palace. Southampton have now made their position clear. According to Sun journalist Jack Rosser, Aston Villa have seen an £18m bid rejected for Harwood-Bellis, with Saints demanding at least £25m up front before they will consider selling their captain. Taylor Harwood-Bellis has already mastered the Championship West Ham's objective this season couldn't be clearer. Get promoted. So there is obvious value in recruiting players who have already proved they know how to do it. Harwood-Bellis has done it twice in successive seasons. The former Manchester City defender made 32 Championship appearances for Burnley as Vincent Kompany's side stormed to the title with 101 points in 2022/23. He then joined Southampton and helped them win promotion through the play-offs the following season, making 40 Championship appearances before starting the Wembley final victory over Leeds. He came close to making it three career Championship promotions last season, but Southampton's spy-gate scandal saw them kicked out of the Play-Off final. That's still some CV for someone who is still only 24. West Ham have already signed Joel Piroe and Manor Solomon after both played major roles in Leeds' promotion-winning campaign. Signing Harwood-Bellis follows exactly the same logic. Nuno desperately needs another defensive leader Todibo has reached an agreement with Marseille over a potential move back to France. Disasi, who made such a significant impact during his loan spell at West Ham last season, is now expected to join Crystal Palace instead. Meanwhile, the Hammers have already thrown away a two-goal lead in their opening Championship fixture against Burnley. So it's clear West Ham need another centre-back before the transfer window closes on September 1. And Harwood-Bellis brings something Nuno's current defensive options arguably lack - leadership. He captained England at U21 level and has worn the armband for Southampton despite still being relatively young. Former England U21 boss Lee Carsley once described him as "a leader" who was "very well respected on and off the pitch". Harwood-Bellis himself has spoken openly about embracing that responsibility. "I like being seen as a leader," he said while on England duty in 2024. "I like helping my team." That mentality is exactly what Nuno's defence needs. West Ham need characters who are capable of operating in an environment it currently finds itself in - trying to recover from relegation, coping with a huge turnover of players and immediately establishing itself as the best side in the Championship. £25m is huge but Harwood-Bellis could be worth it Of course, there is no getting around the price. Southampton have already rejected around £17m from Benfica and have now knocked back Villa's latest approach. West Ham would therefore need to spend considerably more than either club has offered so far. £25m up front for a defender while playing Championship football would be another enormous commitment after the £22m spent on Arne Engels. But Harwood-Bellis is 24, is English and he's an England international. He's also has Premier League experience, so he naturally fits the profile West Ham have been targeting this summer. If West Ham go straight back up, Harwood-Bellis is young enough and experienced enough to remain part of Nuno's defence in the top flight. West Ham competition tells its own story There is another reason West Ham should take their interest seriously. Both Benfica and Aston Villa can offer European football this season. That doesn't guarantee Harwood-Bellis will become an elite Premier League centre-back, but it certainly suggests West Ham aren't alone in recognising his quality. The Hammers may ultimately decide £25m up front is simply too expensive. But with Todibo, El Hadji Malick Diouf and Aaron Wan-Bissaka all expected to leave in the coming days, West Ham may have a bit more money to reinvest. The Hammers could effectively reinvest money from a player who wants to leave into a younger England international who already knows exactly what it takes to get promoted from the Championship. Have your say! Is Taylor Harwood-Bellis the no-brainer centre-back signing West Ham should be pushing for? Is £25m too expensive? Have your say in the comments below for a chance to WIN a new West Ham shirt of your choice...