Southampton turn to Benjamin Fredrick to replace Harwood‑Bllis

Southampton have told Brentford defender Benjamin Fredrick he could solve the ‘tricky’ situation created by centre‑back Taylor Harwood‑Bllis, who may leave before the 1 September deadline as the club set a £30 million asking price. The 24‑year‑old has featured in every minute of Southampton’s opening defeat to Watford, and his departure would be a blow to the club’s promotion hopes.

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Action Images By  Declan Harte AM GMT+1 is a football writer and podcaster who has worked in the media industry since 2021. Declan earned a Masters degree in Sports Journalism in 2020 from the National University of Ireland, Galway, and joined Football League World in 2021, covering all things EFL. He previously worked on the Total Football podcast and now writes a weekly Formula newsletter. Try the weekly Formula newsletter for more insights.

Harwood‑Bllis’ departure risk

Taylor Harwood‑Bllis, 24, featured for all 90 minutes of Southampton’s opening‑day 2‑1 defeat to Watford and made 43 league appearances last season as the Saints finished fourth. The club have set a £30 million asking price and hope to decide his future before the 1 September deadline, with Benfica reported as interested. Harwood has been a key figure under manager Tonda Eckert.

Brentford centre‑back Benjamin Fredrick, 21, is a full‑Nigeria international who spent last season on loan at Belgian side Dander, making 14 Pro League appearances. He has yet to break into Brentford’s first team under Keith Andrews, but his right‑side centre‑back qualities and aerial ability have been highlighted as similar to Harwood‑Bllis.

Louis Harris, a Southampton fan pundit for Football League World, warned that matching Harwood‑Bllis’ £30 million price would be financially difficult, suggesting the Saints target a player seeking a first‑team breakthrough. He named Fredrick as a like‑for‑like option and also mentioned 27‑year‑old Anel Ahmedhodzic as a more experienced alternative.

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The final weeks of the transfer window leave Southampton with limited time to secure a replacement, and it remains to be seen whether Benfica will meet the asking price or if a deal for Fredrick or another target can be completed before the deadline. We will watch the developments closely.