Saints Marching
Fansided

Southampton: Saints lining up Bristol City’s Kelly for summer transfer

By Marc Walker

WATFORD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 06: Lloyd Kelly of Bristol City during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Watford and Bristol City at Vicarage Road on January 6, 2018 in Watford, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
WATFORD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 06: Lloyd Kelly of Bristol City during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Watford and Bristol City at Vicarage Road on January 6, 2018 in Watford, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Southampton are reportedly interested in making a move for Bristol City defender Lloyd Kelly this summer.

According to Bristol Live, Saints were quoted a price of £15m for the 20-year-old in the January transfer window but may return for him ahead of next season.

The report also states that Bristol City would be likely to reject any advances unless a huge offer came in from St Mary’s as they see him as one of their brightest young prospects.

Kelly is an England Under-21 international left-back and has three caps to date for the Young Lions. He’s also capable of playing as a centre-back.

Saints have always been set on bringing through their own homegrown talent but are reportedly looking at mainly British transfer targets this summer.

BRISTOL, ENGLAND – MARCH 21: Lloyd Kelly of England controls the ball during the U21 International Friendly match between England and Poland at Ashton Gate on March 21, 2019 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)
BRISTOL, ENGLAND – MARCH 21: Lloyd Kelly of England controls the ball during the U21 International Friendly match between England and Poland at Ashton Gate on March 21, 2019 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images) /

Next. Five previous final day wins for Saints at St Mary's. dark

Kelly would clearly fit this as a promising young English talent, but a move for him could mean the sale of either Ryan Bertrand or Matt Targett in the coming months.

More from Saints Marching

Bertrand has played more under Ralph Hasenhuttl since his return from injury and is normally a reliable presence down the left.

After starting 11 of the last 12 games, it would appear that he remains first-choice.

Targett covered well during Bertrand’s injury spell but has made just one substitute appearance since February – against Bournemouth when he also netted his first goal for the club.

He was subject to strong interest last summer and in January from Fulham after spending the 2017/18 season on-loan at Craven Cottage.

At 23-years-old, it could be said that he needs to move on to further his career this summer.

If he is not going to be guaranteed the regular football that he is capable of under Hasenhuttl, then he should look for a club that would give him regular minutes like Fulham did.

Moving Targett out and replacing him with Kelly would also fit the structure that Hasenhuttl will be working for this summer.

Having experienced heads like Bertrand as the main men and then supplementing them with bright, young players throughout the squad would see him preparing well for the future like he had done at RB Leipzig.

Home/Transfer Rumors