Fulham and West Ham United are ready to battle it out with Tottenham Hotspur for the services of 25-year-old Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly.
According to a report by 90min, Tottenham Hotspur are looking to bolster their defence in the winter transfer window and have their eyes set on Lloyd Kelly. Fulham and West Ham United are also interested in him. Spurs wanted to sign him in the summer, but they failed to land him at the club.
However, they are looking to return with an offer for the 25-year-old in January. But, this time around, they will face a lot of competition for the Bournemouth defender’s signatures. West Ham United and Fulham are two English clubs keen on having the former England youth international in their ranks. He is also a target for AC Milan and other European bigwigs.
Kelly came through the ranks at Bristol City and made it to their first team in the summer of 2017. After two impressive seasons at the club, Bournemouth managed to acquire his services in the summer of 2019.
The 25-year-old has gone from strength to strength since joining the Cherries. He has featured in a total of 123 matches and has also contributed towards nine goals. Last season, he struggled with injuries and could only feature in 24 matches. Despite missing out on quite a few matches because of injuries, he still managed to attract a lot of attention.
With his contract expiring in the summer of 2024, Spurs tried to sign him in the summer. They submitted an offer worth £20 million for Kelly, who had entered the final year of his contract with Bournemouth. However, the Cherries rejected it as they wanted to keep hold of the 25-year-old.
Ange Postecoglou wanted Kelly in his ranks. Spurs made a move for the former England youth international on the specific instructions of their manager. They might have failed back then but are still keen on having him in their ranks.
Spurs have been doing wonders in the ongoing season. They are currently top of the Premier League but do not have the much-needed depth to sustain themselves. As a result, they are keen on signing players this winter. Their priority is to bolster their backline, and Kelly is someone who can help them. He is versatile and can play in the heart of the defence as well as a full-back.
But, Spurs are not alone in the race. They will face competition from Fulham as well as West Ham United. Both the Premier League clubs are looking for defensive reinforcement. Their managers are not happy with the team’s defensive performances and want to have another option in their ranks.
Also Read: Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham: Sustained transformation or false dawn?
Kelly has a lot of experience of playing in the English top flight, and his recent performances suggest he could help their cause. They can offer the 25-year-old a much bigger role than the one he might have at Spurs. As a result, it will be interesting to see who wins the race for his signatures.