Liverpool join race for unsettled defender as Tottenham plot fresh January approach for confirmed leaver’s replacement
Lloyd Kelly linked with Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle
Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are two of the clubs that could be bidding to sign Lloyd Kelly from Bournemouth in January, a report has revealed.
Kelly was the subject of interest from Tottenham on deadline day, but Bournemouth rejected their £20m bid because of a lack of time to replace him. However, there has since been no sign of Kelly opening up to a new contract with Bournemouth.
And since his current deal is due to expire at the end of the season, January could be Bournemouth’s last chance to cash in on the 24-year-old.
According to 90min, Tottenham are planning a new attempt to sign Kelly, who could become the replacement for Davinson Sanchez after the Colombian was sold to Galatasaray beyond the English deadline.
However, Liverpool have established their own interest in the left-footed centre-back, who represents a type of player they do not currently have.
Furthermore, the report claims Newcastle could become bidders for Kelly after failing to address their options at centre-back in the summer. Kelly is believed to be a long-term target for the Magpies.
It is not yet clear what price might win a club the race for Kelly in January. Bournemouth originally invested £13m to sign him from Bristol City in 2019, but their demands this summer when Tottenham swooped were inflated due to timings.
Kelly has made 124 appearances across his Bournemouth career so far. This season, he has started one match apiece in the Premier League and the EFL Cup.
Interestingly, his two Premier League appearances this season have both come against his admirers. He came on as a substitute against Liverpool and then started against Tottenham for Andoni Iraola’s side.
Both of those games finished as defeats for Bournemouth, so perhaps Kelly could progress his career with a club more used to competing in the top half of the table instead.
