Report: Vincent Kompany could gatecrash potential Celtic move for Taylor Harwood-Bellis

By David Walton

May 29, 2022

Imminent new Burnley boss Vincent Kompany wants Celtic-linked Taylor Harwood-Bellis should he be announced as the new boss of the Clarets, according to the Sun.

Kompany is expected to be announced as the new boss of the recently relegated side at some stage next week [Lancs Live]. The Sun believes he’s keen on taking the Manchester City centre-back with him too after spending time with him at Anderlecht last season.

The report claims that Harwood-Bellis left the Belgian club midway through last season after becoming unsettled. However, he’s lauded Kompany in the past and stated that it was a “brilliant experience” playing under him [Stoke Sentinel].

Sky Sports reported last week that Celtic had been monitoring the Englishman for a potential loan move this summer. However, it’s important to stress that no contact had been made.

However, it remains to be seen what Harwood-Bellis’ reaction to joining up with Kompany whilst remaining in England would do for him.

The defender did feature regularly for Stoke last year in the Championship of course, making 23 appearances [Transfermarkt].

Vincent Kompany still to be announced at Burnley as Celtic ponder move

Should Harwood-Bellis team up with Kompany, the truth is he won’t be doing anything new. He’ll still be involved in the Championship which doesn’t seem to have brought him any closer to first-team action at City.

Even if he did win promotion with the Clarets, he wouldn’t be in the spotlight he would be if he went to Celtic Park. That becomes a whole new ball game.

Look at the impression Patrick Roberts made on Man City after scoring against them at the Etihad back in the 2016/17 campaign. Granted, he didn’t end up playing regularly for the EPL champions, but it gave him plenty of attention before he struggled in future loan moves.

Celtic will be in the UEFA Champions League next season. You would hope this is the kind of signing that having that carrot would help sway. After all, Harwood-Bellis would surely be hugely excited over a first-ever campaign in the UCL group stages. That would help his development a lot more than another season of second-tier football, regardless of who he’s working with.

Of course, it appears that Ange has still to make his mind up as to whether we’re even making a move here. We need another centre-back in regardless of whether Cameron Carter-Vickers stays. Should Chris Jullien depart, all of a sudden it becomes a necessity.

And if it is indeed Harwood-Bellis we choose to go for? He has a big decision ahead of him.

In other news, Liel Abada tells Israeli media about the “amazing” atmosphere inside Celtic dressing-room