Interest revived in versatile England U21 international

Liverpool want Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly.

The Express journalist Tony Banks wrote that sporting director Michael Edwards is prepared to revive interest in the England U21 international.

Liverpool were interested in signing the youngster last summer, said Banks, but were beaten to the deal by Eddie Howe’s recruitment team.

Bournemouth signed Lloyd Kelly from Bristol City for £13.3 million last summer, but their relegation from the Premier League has got the vultures circling.

Nathan Ake could be another Cherries player who departs following the drop, and reports have indicated they’d be prepared to let him go on the cheap.

Kelly is an interesting player to look at because he’s versatile. He can play at either centre-back or left-back and would be able to provide Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp with cover in both areas.

His current boss Howe was very complimentary when he talked about his ability in either roles, reported the Express.

"Howe said: “I think both positions for us at the moment. I wouldn’t say one or the other – he can play both very well.“From full-back he’s really good athletically, he uses the ball well and is strong and good in the air – has lots of good qualities.“At centre-back the same qualities show and his use of the ball is very good.”"

However, the defender has played just nine games this season as injury and the form of others combined to keep him out the side. A ligament problem caused Kelly to miss the first six fixtures, and the Bristol-born starlet couldn’t force his way into Howe’s side after that.

Then a hamstring issue cost him the next 10 weeks of his career and Kelly could only get the nod after the restart and he started seven games in a row at centre-back.

Kelly rose to prominence at Bristol City, where he played at left-back most of the time. The season before his Premier League move, the 21-year-old played 40 games on the flank, scoring two goals and assisting two. He played six games through the middle, and even had one at right-back.

On paper this seems like a fairly promising deal. Liverpool need cover in the two positions Kelly is good at, he’s young and English, and wouldn’t cost a huge amount given Bournemouth’s relegation and the likelihood that they’ll need to sell players.

The club have been linked with other defenders this month, but this move seems to have a strong internal logic.