Southampton will keep Taylor Harwood-Bellis, for now, after Benfica walked away from negotiations for the defender.
The Portuguese club had made the 24-year-old a priority and opened talks with the Saints. However, Wednesday’s print edition of A Bola now reveals they couldn’t get past a disagreement over the price.
Benfica have instead agreed a deal for Parma’s Alessandro Circati. That effectively ends their pursuit of Harwood-Bellis.
Southampton refused to drop their price
The situation had already looked difficult last week. Benfica were prepared to pay €20m (£17.3m) for Harwood-Bellis and weren’t willing to go any higher. Southampton, meanwhile, had their own limit.
Saints were willing to negotiate a sale, but never for less than €23.5m (£20.3m). That’s the amount Southampton paid Manchester City for Harwood-Bellis in 2024.
The gap between the clubs was therefore €3.5m (£3m), and neither side appears to have been prepared to give way.
Harwood-Bellis himself was “seduced” by the possibility of joining Benfica. The Portuguese club had hoped the player’s desire for the move could help them reach an agreement.
It wasn’t enough. Benfica eventually concluded they were unlikely to overcome the impasse with Southampton. They then withdrew and explored their alternatives.
Southampton were informed on Tuesday about Benfica’s decisive progress for another centre-back.
Benfica move quickly for alternative
That alternative is Australian defender Alessandro Circati. Benfica have agreed to pay Parma €18m (£15.6m), plus another €2m (£1.7m) in potential bonuses. The 22-year-old is expected in Lisbon for medical examinations and to sign his contract.
Talks with Parma had been taking place over recent days. They gathered pace once Benfica accepted a deal for Harwood-Bellis was unlikely.
Circati was quickly convinced by the move and Benfica then reached an agreement with Parma on Tuesday afternoon.
That closes this particular transfer route for Southampton. It also confirms the Saints held firm on their valuation despite Harwood-Bellis being interested in Benfica.
The Portuguese side had alternatives ready when we covered their position last week. They have now used one of them instead of meeting Southampton’s €23.5m (£20.3m) demand.
