Benitez now want to beat Newcastle and West Ham to sign ‘excellent’ defender

Everton have now joined the race to sign Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly following close links with both Newcastle United and West Ham United.

The Sunday Mirror (January 9, p71) reports that Everton have now added Kelly to their wish list for this month.

It is said that owner Rafael Benitez wants to add a new centre-back after buying full-backs Vitaliy Mykolenko and Nathan Patterson.

Everton fans may want some attacking talent, but Benitez is keeping an eye on defenders more.

The problem for Everton is that Newcastle and West Ham both want to sign Kelly.

Request 90 million VND that Newcastle wanted to reunite Kelly with Eddie Howe, who Kelly called ‘outstanding’ at Bournemouth.

In other places, Telegraph suggested that West Ham are also very interested.

Centre-back Kelly is now looking to have a great season so far with Bournemouth.

Kelly has teamed up with Gary Cahill in the heart of Bournemouth’s defence, forming a good partnership.

Cahill’s experience combined with Kelly’s prolific fitness and ability to strike from the back were ideal under Scott Parker.

The key to Kelly’s appeal is that he is a left-footed centre-back. Many managers now want to have those players on their teams, support playing from the back and beat the press.

Newcastle have been linked with a host of left-footed centre-backs, including Sven Botman, Nico Schlotterbeck and Benoit Badiashile.

At West Ham, Angelo Ogbonna is injured and aging, and Kelly is likely to be seen as a long-term replacement.

Everton also need a left-footed centre-back, but earning money to beat Newcastle and West Ham will not be easy.

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