West Ham United manager David Moyes is reportedly interested in bringing Lloyd Kelly to the London Stadium in January.
According to the Daily Telegraph, West Ham United are keen on signing Lloyd Kelly in the January transfer window. David Moyes is eager to solve the problems in the central defensive unit by signing the promising 23-year-old defender from Bournemouth.
The January transfer window could not have come sooner for David Moyes as West Ham United are beginning to show cracks due to injuries to key players. Angelo Ogbonna is already ruled out for the season with an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury, while Kurt Zouma is also unavailable for a few weeks.
The absence of the two first choice centre-backs has caused the Hammers to falter in their bid to finish in the top four after starting the season in top form. The wins over Liverpool and Chelsea have been among the highlights of West Ham’s campaign so far, although the recent defeat to Arsenal showcased their need to bring in reinforcements.
The east Londoners have been linked with a few names in recent weeks leading up to the January transfer window. Arsenal’s on-loan defender Konstantinos Mavropanos is a name West Ham are keen on, although complications with his contract with Stuttgart could put off a potential move.
Meanwhile, there are links to Newcastle United target Sven Botman, who is keen to join a Premier League club. The interest from the Magpies and their financial power could enable their rivals to sign him, meaning the Hammers will have to eye an alternative.
Moyes is reportedly keen on signing Lloyd Kelly, who plies his trade with Bournemouth in the Championship. The 23-year-old English defender has been integral to the Cherries’ push towards gaining automatic promotion back to the Premier League as they sit two points behind table-toppers Fulham currently.
West Ham are particularly interested in Kelly for his ability to play on the left half of the defence. The left-footed defender is considered ideal by Moyes to improve his team in the second half of the season, as the Hammers are only left with Craig Dawson and Issa Diop as their recognised centre-backs.
The deal could be particularly difficult considering Bournemouth’s quest for promotion, which will make them think hard before letting a key player like Kelly leave mid-season. Alternatively, the Cherries being in such a promising position could allow them to demand a huge fee from West Ham for the English defender, who has a contract until 2024.
It remains to be seen if Moyes can pull off a magic trick like he did when signing Jarrod Bowen from the Championship. However, even if West Ham are serious in their pursuit of Kelly, they might find it hard to convince Bournemouth into selling, which threatens to unnecessarily drag the move.
