Bournemouth owner Bill Foley has asserted that rumoured Tottenham target Lloyd Kelly will not be sold during the January transfer window.
Kelly is one of several centre-backs rumoured to be on Spurs’ radar, with multiple outlets over the last couple of months backing the Lilywhites to reignite their interest in the 25-year-old after missing out on him last summer (GiveMeSport).
The Standard reported just last week that Ange Postecoglou is keen on adding a left-sided centre-back to his squad next month, with the Cherries star being one of the names at the top of the agenda.
The defender has also been mooted as a target for the likes of Liverpool (Football Insider), Arsenal (Tuttosport) and AC Milan (Fabrizio Romano) over recent months.
Kelly’s current contract at the Vitality Stadium runs out next summer and there is nothing to indicate at the moment that the player is going to sign an extension.
Lloyd Kelly will not be leaving Bournemouth
However, despite this, Foley has now made it clear that the centre-back will stay put at the South Coast club.
The American businessman told talkSPORT: “Our door is closed and it’s bolted. We’re not interested in selling any player.
“If situations arise that we’re put in a position where we are compelled to do something because the player really wants to move on, but we were very specific in terms of Philip Billing and Dom and signing them to new, extended contracts.
“We would like to do that with another player. We are meeting with the agent and that would be a big accomplishment if we could keep Lloyd Kelly as he is a key player, is versatile and can play two different positions.
“I like him as an individual. He’s a good player, and a good guy. We can just do the best we can and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Bournemouth’s number one priority is obviously to stay in the division and preserving their Premier League status would be worth a lot more to the club than the £10m-£15m they might lose out on by hanging on to Kelly. It is thus not surprising that the Cherries are willing to let the 25-year-old run his contract down.