Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur reportedly learn what they would have to pay to sign Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly during the January transfer window.
Bournemouth have reportedly reached a decision over an asking price for defender Lloyd Kelly.
Although he cost £13m when arriving from Bristol City in 2019, Kelly has proven to be one of Bournemouth’s most important additions since that transfer.
A total of 110 starts and six substitute outings have been made in league fixtures, Kelly having been a part of Championship promotion and Premier League survival campaigns.
The 25-year-old has featured for 637 minutes of Bournemouth’s top-flight season in 2023-24, making seven starts and one substitute appearance, completing the 90 minutes in each of the last four games.
Most notably, Bournemouth have won two of those fixtures, recording valuable home victories over Burnley and Newcastle United to move three points clear of the relegation zone.
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However, while head coach Andoni Iraola will be eager to retain the services of the versatile Englishman, Bournemouth officials have a decision to make regarding his future.
Kelly seemingly has little interest in extending his contract past the end of this season, effectively putting him in the shop window with an increasing amount of admirers.
Nevertheless, according to Football Insider, Bournemouth are currently taking the stance where they will be sticking to a £30m asking price.
That is despite the possibility of Kelly signed a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club in January to leave for nothing in July.
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AC Milan have already been tipped to make such a move, the Italian giants not possessing the financial firepower to meet Bournemouth’s demands for Kelly.
Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur may have such capabilities, particularly the latter who cashed in on Harry Kane during the last transfer window and are keen to offload a number of players in January.
As it stands, it is unclear if anything could change Bournemouth’s alleged judgment call, the Cherries also having to weigh up whether it is worth risking Kelly leaving as a free agent if it means boosting their hopes of staying in the Premier League.
The report adds that they have started to scour the market for a replacement, although they may be limited in January given that they spent well in excess of £100m in the transfer market over the summer.