Leeds United face Leicester City and Southampton competition in pursuit of Taylor Harwood-Bellis loan deal

Leeds United are interested in signing defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis on loan from Manchester City, but face competition for his signature, according to John Percy.

The Telegraph reporter provided an update via Twitter (16 August), claiming that Leeds as well as Championship rivals Southampton and Leicester City are all interested in signing the England Under-21 captain on loan.

Manchester City are also willing to let their academy product go permanently this summer if the right price is met.

Harwood-Bellis was a part of Vincent Kompany's Burnley side that won promotion with ease last season, lifting the Championship title after amassing 101 points in the division, 10 more than second-placed Sheffield United.

Experienced

If either of the three clubs relegated from the Premier League last year could pull off this deal, it would be a fantastic bit of business and really boost that club's chances of promotion straight back to England's top flight.

The 21-year-old has plenty of experience in the Championship after his exploits with Burnley last season, for who he was a stand-out performer, featuring 32 times, scoring once and providing two assists from the back during the Turf Moor side's impressive title-winning campaign.

This Championship experience could therefore prove crucial, and he only continued to build the momentum around his name after a string of impressive performances at the UEFA Under-21 European Championship as he helped lead England to glory without conceding a single goal throughout the whole tournament.

Daniel Farke's side have some issues defensively at the moment, and Harwood-Bellis might just be the perfect solution to help fix them.

In other Leeds United news, two players linked with exits away from the club have missed out on first-team training.