Arsenal has been joined by a host of Premier League clubs, including Tottenham in the race to sign Bristol City’s youngster Lloyd Kelly, according to the latest transfer reports in the British media.
Kelly has had a stellar season with the Robins, he is just 20-year-old and has made no less than 43 appearances for the Championship side. Make no mistake, this lad is talented.
Tottenham apparently sees him as a long term replacement for Jan Vertonghen, Liverpool showed interest in him earlier in the season and Southampton have made enquiries.
However, Arsenal has been making regular checks on the 6ft 3ins defender who can play either left-back or centre-back.
We have been one of the first, if not the first, Premier League club to identify Kelly as a top class talent that can transition to Premier League football and it will be frustration on a massive scale if our bloody neighbours beat us to his signature.
According to the same report, Bristol City only wants £15 Million for the youngster. That is a fantastic bargain price in my opinion because let me tell you, the Championship is a very tough division to be a defender in and the fact that he has been an almost permanent presence in the heart of City’s defence and being monitored by three of the top six tells you how good he is.
Bristol City do not need to sell but you have to think that if Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham or even Southampton come in and meet their asking price that Kelly will be really tempted to ask to be allowed to leave to play in the Premier League and potentially Champions League rather than stay in the Championship for another season.
But whatever happens, we simply cannot allow Tottenham to sneak in and land a top quality player that we identified and that we can afford to buy.