West Ham transfer news as Lloyd Kelly update emerges amid new Bournemouth contract verdict
West Ham United are one of the teams most likely to sign Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly during the summer transfer window, according to TeamTalk.
The outlet reported on its website on Monday (19 February) that the Hammers, alongside Tottenham and Newcastle United, are the three sides expected to compete to sign the former England youth international at the end of the season.
Kelly’s current deal with the Cherries expires at the end of the season and while Bournemouth are keen to tie him down to a new contract, they are not confident of agreeing terms with the defender before the end of the campaign.
Should the 25-year-old sign on the dotted line at the Vitality Stadium, his new contract would include a release clause, leaving the door open for the Irons or any other side to swoop in and secure his services permanently.
West Ham and David Moyes could bring Lloyd Kelly to the London Stadium
There is a lot of uncertainty around the London Stadium at this moment in time, with various reports still surrounding David Moyes’ future given the Hammers’ recent poor form in the Premier League, but it seems as though some plans are already in place.
Additions at centre-back are a necessity for the Irons as this season has shown that the current options available to Moyes are nowhere near good enough for a side that wants to be challenging for European football.
Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd have struggled in recent weeks while Konstantinos Mavropanos has made an inconsistent start in England, but the signing of Kelly would be a huge upgrade and a real step in the right direction.
The 25-year-old’s versatility as both a centre-back and a left-back means that he could be a real difference-maker in a number of positions, while also allowing a greater tactical adaptability in defence.
Whether the Hammers can win the race for his signature remains to be seen, but they should be doing all they can to beat Tottenham and Newcastle when the transfer window opens this summer.
In other West Ham news, one journalist has shared his verdict on the chances of Kalvin Phillips joining the Irons permanently
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