Southampton centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis has said he wants to stay at the club if they get promoted to the Premier League this season.
The 21-year-old joined Saints in the summer on loan from European champions Manchester City, after spending last season on loan at Burnley, who won the Championship last year.
The England under-21 international has enjoyed a decent start to his life on the south coast, forming a good partnership with Jan Bednarek over recent games.
Harwood-Bellis wants to stay if club are promoted
Speaking to the Daily Echo, Harwood-Bellis said that if Saints are promoted then he would definitely want to stay at St Mary’s.
“If we get promoted. Yeah, 100 per cent. That’s the drive of the whole club, to get back to the Premier League, and that’s where I want to be.
“I wouldn’t have come here if that wasn’t the club’s ambition. If someone said to me, you’ll be playing for Southampton in the Premier League next year, I’d snap your hand off.
“I haven’t thought too much about that yet as it is a long way away and we have to grind to get ourselves there. I’ve loved it here, it’s a lovely part of the world. I’ve settled in well and that’s due to the staff, the players and everyone at the club. I’m enjoying my time here.”
Loanee stay would be huge for Russell Martin
It would be a massive boost for manager Russell Martin if Harwood-Bellis was to stick around.
Saints reportedly have a £20 million option to buy should they get promoted, which there are no doubts they would trigger should they do so.
At the age of 21, the centre back also has potential to have good resale value, too.
It would be a move that is beneficial for all parties, with it looking unlikely he would get a sniff of a chance at his parent club.