Tottenham have have joined the hunt Bristol City centre-back Lloyd Kelly, according to Football Insider.
The source says that the 20-year-old – who has made three appearances for the England Under-21 setup – has been eyed as a long-term replacement for Jan Vertonghen.
The Belgian international has one year left on his current deal in North London, and FI say that Spurs want Kelly this summer in case Vertonghen decides to leave at the end of next season.
Good move for Spurs?
Most definitely. This has been Kelly’s breakthrough season and he has excelled. He has made 32 Championship appearances for City – mainly at left-back, but there is every reason to suggest that Kelly could move across the back line and be just as good, if not better. Perhaps the most exciting thing about this transfer is that Kelly is only 20 years of age, and with Mauricio Pochettino’s track record of improving young players – with Harry Kane and Dele Alli the flagship duo to have come on in recent seasons under the Argentine – the defender could be the next man to develop into a top-class Spurs player.
This is Futbol rating 9/10
Likely to happen?
There’s a real chance. It is likely that Spurs are going to have to spend big to secure the defender, but City could definitely be persuaded. It is likely, too, that Kelly himself could be persuaded, having seen Alli go from MK Dons to become a lynchpin in the Spurs midfield.
This is Futbol rating 8/10