Liverpool are facing serious competition from Southampton for Bristol City defender Lloyd Kelly, according to Football Insider.
The outlet claims that Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side have moved into pole position for the 6ft 2in left back [Source: Transfermarkt] due to their ability to offer him a surer path to first team football.
The Reds have kept close tabs on the 20-year-old this season after a stunning campaign from the youngster in which he appeared 34 times for Lee Johnson’s side.
Jurgen Klopp and co. are said to have been very impressed by the player’s development, but the Saints represent serious competition for the Englishman.
OPINION
This is a blow for Liverpool, there’s no doubt about that. Kelly isn’t a household name by any means, but he’s quietly racking up quite a resume in the Championship. He was a key part of a Bristol City side who made a decent push for the Play Off places this season, before ultimately coming up short. He’s a tremendous young talent who is only going to get better in the years to come, and so he’d make sense as a potential Liverpool player. Klopp will need to bring in another left back this summer, because Alberto Moreno looks set to depart when his contract expires in a couple of months. However, Southampton are in the hunt and apparently could offer more first team football than Liverpool – with Andrew Robertson firmly entrenched as the first choice left back – can. But can they actually? They already have two quality left backs in Ryan Bertrand and Matt Targett, so would Kelly really be given regular first team football? Maybe not, in which case the Reds would be back in pole position.
