After Tottenham’s unsuccessful bid, Bournemouth’s star player responded when asked about his future: “I’d be lying.”
After what happened in the transfer window, Lloyd Kelly, who was supposedly the target of late transfer interest from Tottenham Hotspur, has acknowledged that things have been “up and down” for him the first few months of the season.
The Athletic reported that Spurs had made a £20 million offer to Bournemouth for Kelly on the morning of the deadline day this summer.
According to the report, the Cherries were hesitant to allow the defender to go so late in the transfer season because they were unable to quickly find a suitable replacement.
Since then, a number of sources have suggested that Tottenham would renew their interest in the 24-year-old when the transfer window reopens in January, including Matt Barlow (Daily Mail) and Alasdair Gold (YouTube channel).
In the meantime, Football Insider reported a few weeks ago that the South Coast club would be forced to sell the center-back on a discounted deal because his contract with the organization expires next summer and he hasn’t showed any desire to sign a new one.
Lloyd Kelly opens up on his start to the season
The center-back has now acknowledged that he is prepared to put the summer’s events behind him and concentrate on performing at his best.
“I think looking back at the start of the season, I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a bit of an up and down ride,” Kelly stated to BBC Radio Solent. However, I’m here and I want to play football as well as I can.
“I believe that playing consistently and as well as I am capable of playing is my goal for this season. So that’s what I’m aiming for.
The defender was even left off Bournemouth’s matchday squad against Brentford as rumors about his future grew louder as the transfer window came to an end.
When questioned if he chose not to go to Brentford or if that decision was made for him, Kelly responded, “I really have nothing to say on that. I believe that is now in the past. I’m concentrating on the upcoming games as I look into the future.
I’m just focused on playing football to the best of my ability, and I believe that’s all I can say on that, the center-back said in response to a question on the status of his contract. My focus is in that direction. I want to be performing consistently and to the best of my ability.
Reading between the lines, it appears that Kelly wanted to depart but was prevented from doing so on the day of the transfer deadline by Bournemouth. Given their dearth of central defense choices in January, Spurs will probably make another attempt to recruit him on a discount deal.
