Liverpool pulled out of a move to sign Bristol City defender Lloyd Kelly after Premier League rivals Bournemouth agreed a fee with the Championship club, according to the Evening Standard.
The newspaper report that Jurgen Klopp was believed to have been interested in making a move for Kelly, with the German viewing the 20-year-old as being capable of providing defensive cover for Liverpool’s squad.
However, it is thought that once Premier League rivals Bournemouth had agreed a fee with Bristol City for the defender, Liverpool cooled their interest in the 20-year-old allowing Eddie Howe’s side to complete the deal.
Liverpool will reportedly remain in the market to sign a player of similar profile to Kelly, who is capable of playing in multiple positions along the back four, with Alberto Moreno’s departure freeing up a defensive space in Klopp’s squad.
OPINION
Kelly could have been an ideal signing for Liverpool this summer, with the 20-year-old impressing with Bristol City in the Championship this season making 34 appearances in all competitions for Lee Johnson’s side. The defender would have been able to provide cover to Andrew Robertson down Liverpool’s left hand side in the absence of the departing Moreno, and would have been at the right age for Klopp to develop in a similar fashion to Trent Alexander-Arnold. However, with Liverpool already having invested heavily in their squad during the last few transfer windows, the Reds could be reluctant to spend massive amounts during the summer transfer window. Klopp’s squad is already very strong having managed to compete for both the Premier League and Champions League all the way through the campaign, finishing runners-up to Manchester City and reaching the Champions League final in Madrid. However, Liverpool will still need to ensure they do recruit a replacement for Moreno and find someone who can provide cover and competition for Robertson, and the Reds may well regret pulling out of a move for Kelly, if the defender enjoys a successful season with Bournemouth next term.
