Leeds United and Brighton are both interested in signing Manchester City defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis in the summer transfer window, a report from The Manchester Evening News has revealed.

Harwood-Bellis is currently on loan with Championship side Blackburn Rovers, who he joined on the final day of the 2021 summer transfer window.

The 19-year-old has since gone on to make 11 appearances for the club, forming an impressive partnership with fellow centre back Darragh Lenihan at Ewood Park.

Now it seems as though Harwood-Bellis' performances are starting to attract plenty attention from elsewhere.

According to this latest report, it is likely that Harwood-Bellis will be handed another season-long loan spell by parent club Manchester City during the 2021/22 campaign, with Premier League duo Leeds and Brighton both said to be watching the teenager closely.

Championship promotion chasers Brentford have also been credited with an interest in the centre back, who is also thought to be garnering attention from the Bundesliga.

Prior to his loan move to Blackburn, Harwood-Bellis had made eight appearances in all competitions for City, and has three-and-a-half years remaining on his contract with the Premier League leaders, securing his future at The Etihad until the end of the 2023/24 season.

The Verdict

I don't think it is any big surprise that this sort of interest is already starting to emerge in Harwood-Bellis.

The centre back has been really impressive during his brief time on loan at Blackburn, showing he is more than capable of competing at Championship level.

As a result, the next step looks set to be an opportunity to prove himself in the Premier League, and with the number of centre back options City currently have, a loan move elsewhere in the top-flight next season could be his best chance of doing that.

That however, will surely be disappointing for Blackburn, who would no doubt have held hopes of bringing him back to Ewood Park for another spell with them next season, as they look to break into the Championship play-off places.