West Ham United eye January move for Bournemouth ace Lloyd Kelly
According to The Telegraph (Subscription Required), West Ham United are weighing up a move for Bournemouth star Lloyd Kelly in January. The Championship centre-back has been immense for his club this season as they look to seal automatic qualification back into the Premier League.
A product of the Bristol City academy, Kelly joined their youth setup as a 13-year-old. He impressed through the ranks and earned himself a spot in the senior team at the age of 19. After just 48 appearances for his boyhood club, Bournemouth swooped him up. Since then, he has been producing commendable performances for the Cherries.
Could he now leave the Championship side mid-season? And should West Ham procure him in January?
Injury-ridden West Ham need all the help they can get
Since joining the Boscombe-based side in 2019, Kelly has made a massive 70 appearances for them and has also scored 2 goals and provided 4 assists. His defensive performances have been eye-catching, with the Cherries maintaining the 3rd best defence this season. He has also been made captain since then and has guided the club incredibly well this campaign.
West Ham United are now plotting a deal that would see the 23-year-old join them next month. It is clear why the Scot is keen on adding the centre-back to the fold. Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna have been rocks at the back for the Hammers this season. Their incredible defensive nous ensured a place in the Top 4, including beating both Liverpool and Chelsea in doing so. But their injuries have been a massive hit.
The last few weeks have derailed their campaign as they are looking to fight on all fronts. Craig Dawson has been solid in the defence but lacks the pace and energy to play week-in and week-out. Additionally, it is important to understand that Ogbonna shall turn 34 next year and will be out of contract in the summer, albeit they could extend it for another season.
Issa Diop, too, will enter the final year of his deal next summer. Thus, there is a massive need for a centre-back, with Moyes keen on a left-footed defender. Kelly certainly fits the bill, and his personality and leadership skills have also caught the eye of the hierarchy. Moyes has already found success by signing Jarrod Bowen and Said Benrahma from the Championship, and the Bournemouth ace could be the next one to make the list.
West Ham could struggle to sign Llyod Kelly in January
West Ham may be interested in signing the Championship ace, but Bournemouth could be reluctant. The Cherries have performed incredibly well in the first half of the campaign and are on track to seal automatic qualification back into the top-flight. Letting a man of the stature of Kelly mid-season could derail their hopes of playing in the big-time next term.
However, money can often do the trick. And while there is no indication of it happening, it would be advantageous if the player himself pushes for an exit. Thus, it could be an uphill task to convince the player to make the switch to the Premier League in January but then again, it’s always a step up for any footballer moving up to the PL from the Championship.
The East London club came close to securing a Top 4 spot last season. They are a little off the pace at the moment but have more than enough to beat most teams to it. However, they are currently labouring with injuries at the back, and David Moyes needs to fix this problem as soon as possible.
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Kelly could be the solution but it remains to be seen what the Stratford-based side could do to lure the player to the London Stadium in the January transfer window.
