If Southampton fails, Ipswich Town needs to push through the Man City transfer deal: Look at

In the final stretch of the Championship, even if Suffolk Town is able to secure automatic promotion to the Premier League, they might still be keeping an eye on the play-offs in case they want to surprise one of their fellow second-tier rivals.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis, a young defender on loan from Manchester City, has had a fantastic season leading the Saints’ defense, and they will undoubtedly want to hang onto him if they can.
But the South Coast team has struggled lately, and it appears that their chances of getting promoted are in jeopardy. If their worries come true, Harwood-Bellis might be lost.
On the other hand, the Tractor Boys could try to take advantage of Southampton’s predicament as they are well-positioned to secure an automatic spot in the Premier League.
Without Premier League football, Saints run the risk of losing Harwood-Bellis.
Despite his youth, the 22-year-old has adapted well to St Mary’s Stadium and has demonstrated via his steady performances that he is completely at ease there.
His 38 starts in the middle of the Saints defense this season demonstrate how important he has grown, and the team will undoubtedly want to hang onto the young player for as long as possible.
Beyond his short-term contract, Harwood-Bellis has stated that he would very much want to remain with the team—but only if they return to the Premier League.

This idea is also reflected in his loan agreement, which would be activated if Southampton were to win the Premier League, giving Saints the chance to sign the England U21 for a fee of £20 million during the next transfer window.
Harwood-Bellis has become essential to Southampton, so losing out on promotion may be expensive in two ways.
Some of the top Championship clubs are interested in the 24-year-old Hammer, so he should be moving this summer regardless.
In an agreement struck last summer to safeguard his value once this point was reached, Harwood-Bellis is contracted to City until the summer of 2025. However, it looks like this summer will be the ideal time for him to depart the Etihad in pursuit of regular first-team action at the highest level.
Although the brief extension seems to indicate that this was always the plan, it seems doubtful that the young defender will overtake more seasoned players like Ruben Dias at this early point in his career.
Harwood-Bellis won’t want to go back to playing in the academy or as a squad player at City as he has been accustomed to playing regularly and is now an important part of the senior squad. Doing so might be detrimental to his development and all of the hard work he has put in this season.
He is adamant about wanting to play in the Premier League, though, so if Southampton is unable to meet his demands, Ipswich may be the solution—that is, if they are able to advance as well.
Ipswich could be in a great position to steal the deal if the Tractor Boys win and Southampton falters in the play-offs.
In anticipation of a challenging season, Harwood-Bellis would strengthen the team.
Ipswich would probably find that a quick switch to the Premier League is the hardest challenge they have faced in a while, having only been promoted from League One the previous season.
With only a few established center backs and an overabundance of full backs, they are also lacking in defenders at the moment. As a result, they will probably need to bolster their defense in preparation for a season in which they will be defending more than attacking.
Ipswich will probably be the only team interested in Harwood-Bellis if Southampton doesn’t get promoted, but they will have the benefit of being able to offer the young defender guaranteed first-team minutes in the Premier League, which may not be available elsewhere.
Even if their automatic promotion is guaranteed, the Tractor Boys will be keeping a close eye on the play-offs and should take advantage of their position if it opens up a signing window for Harwood-Bellis.

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