Deal of the year,16 million for one of the Premier League's best players

Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur remain strong contenders in the race to sign Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly, according to recent reports. The 25-year-old, a former England Under-21 international, has been with the Cherries since his move from Bristol City in 2019, racking up 130 appearances in all competitions and contributing three goals and seven assists as both a centre-back and full-back.

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With six months remaining on his contract, Kelly looks set for a new challenge at another club. While there is widespread interest both in the Premier League and abroad, foreign clubs have an advantage in being able to hold formal talks and progress a pre-contract agreement. AC Milan, among others, have been linked with the defender, although they were unable to agree a deal in January.

As Football Insider reports, Kelly is in no rush to make a decision on his future club, which is keeping Premier League sides on their toes. According to various reports, it is worth around 16 million. This presents an opportunity for teams such as Liverpool and Spurs, especially the latter, who are facing the departure of key players such as Harry Kane and uncertainty over other players in the squad.

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Although Liverpool have a strong youth academy, Kelly could still be a valuable addition, providing cover at both centre-back and left-back. However, his current focus remains on keeping Bournemouth in contention for a place in the top half of the Premier League table, with the coastal side looking to pull away from Fulham in the standings.