Tottenham to prioritise centre-back in January transfer window

Tottenham Hotspur are hoping to sign a centre-back during the January transfer window and remain interested in signing Lloyd Kelly from Bournemouth, sources have confirmed to 90min.

Posted Friday, November 03, 2023 by 90min.com

Spurs have been the surprise package of the Premier League season so far under the management of Ange Postecoglou, who has overseen a run of eight wins and two draws from their opening ten games to top the table heading into November.

Though they have been impressive this term and their position atop the standings is far from a false one, Tottenham's squad remains rather thin and there is a considerable drop-off between their key starters and their backups.

90min understands that Spurs will prioritise a move for a new central defender when the January window opens, with Kelly still high on their shortlist.

Tottenham failed with a £20m bid for Kelly late in the summer window, with Bournemouth choosing to hold onto the former Ipswich Town man despite entering the final year of his contract. 90min reported in September that Spurs would likely return with an offer in January, though are expected to be rivalled by Liverpool and Newcastle United.

Sources have told 90min that Fulham and West Ham United are now also keeping tabs on Kelly's situation, which could be complicated by interest from abroad.

Tottenham to prioritise centre-back in January transfer window
Kelly is in demand

Serie A sides Juventus and Milan are interested in Kelly, while Borussia Dortmund are also keen on him. Crucially, foreign sides would be able to negotiate a pre-contract with Kelly from January onwards while English teams cannot make such agreements.

Bournemouth ultimately do not want to lose Kelly in January and so he could be priced out of an immediate move to a Premier League outfit.

In addition to Kelly, Tottenham are also continuing to monitor fellow summer targets in Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah and Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo, while 90min recently reported of their interest in Uruguay international Sebastian Caceres.

90min understands that Spurs would look to add another midfielder in January should they part ways Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg - who has been heavily linked with a move to Juventus - while they could move for a new forward if the right opportunity presents itself.