Aperçu N5 FC

Aston Villa are on the verge of completing a massive defensive reinforcement after reaching a verbal agreement to sign centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis from Championship side Southampton. The England international will arrive to bolster Unai Emery's backline as the club urgently looks to replace the recently departed Ezri Konsa for the new campaign.

All you need to know about booking tickets to upcoming EFL Championship matches this season

Aston Villa have been dealt a significant blow in their pursuit of defensive reinforcements after Southampton rejected a bid for Taylor Harwood-Bellis. Unai Emery is determined to bolster his backline this summer, but the Saints are holding firm on their valuation of the highly-rated England international.

Southampton’s return to the Sky Bet Championship turned into a hostile affair as they were relentlessy taunted over the ‘Spygate’ scandal during a 2-1 defeat at Watford. Tonda Eckert’s side struggled to handle the atmosphere at Vicarage Road in their first league outing since the espionage controversy that derailed their previous campaign.