---
title: "Everton: Toffees targeting Lloyd Kelly"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/lloyd-kelly-everton-transfer-target-benitez/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Everton"
published: "2022-01-09T18:40:02Z"
modified: "2022-01-09T18:40:02Z"
---

# Everton: Toffees targeting Lloyd Kelly

**Everton are interested in Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly, according to The Sunday Mirror (via [Goodison News](https://www.goodisonnews.com/2022/01/09/everton-want-to-sign-bournemouth-defender-lloyd-kelly/)).**

### The lowdown

The Toffees have already spent a combined [£33.75m this month](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/everton-fc/transfers/verein/29/plus/?saison_id=2021&pos=&detailpos=&w_s=w) on two defensive reinforcements in full-backs Vitaliy Mykolenko and Nathan Patterson, but [it has been reported](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10361059/Premier-League-club-club-transfer-guide-Tottenham-need-striker-Chelsea-want-new-defender.html) that they could part with centre-back Mason Holgate during the January transfer window.

Kelly, who may be viewed as an upgrade, has two-and-a-half years left to run on his contract at the Vitality Stadium and is valued at £9m by [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lloyd-kelly/profil/spieler/480116).

### The latest

The report from The Sunday Mirror (via [Goodison News](https://www.goodisonnews.com/2022/01/09/everton-want-to-sign-bournemouth-defender-lloyd-kelly/)) stated that Rafael Benitez and Everton have Kelly ‘on their radar’.

The manager’s next priority is a centre-back, and he has impressed by the 23-year-old’s ‘fine’ form in the Championship. However, Everton face competition from Benitez’s former club Newcastle United, as well as West Ham United.

### The verdict

Would Kelly be a good signing for Everton?

He has [been a staple](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lloyd-kelly/leistungsdaten/spieler/480116) of the Bournemouth side which currently sits three points clear at the top of the Championship, starting 19 of their 25 matches and donning the captain’s armband on 15 occasions. He has also helped the Cherries to keep more clean sheets (12) [than any other side](https://www.fotmob.com/leagues/48/stats/season/16391/teams/clean_sheet_team/championship) in the division.

In addition to his solid fundamentals, Kelly wins [63%](https://www.sofascore.com/player/lloyd-kelly/865167) of his duels, compared to [49%](https://www.sofascore.com/player/ruben-dias/318941) for [reigning Premier League Player of the Season](https://www.premierleague.com/news/2164971#:~:text=Defender%20becomes%20second%20Portuguese%20to,debut%20campaign%20for%20Man%20City&text=Ruben%20Dias%20has%20been%20voted,the%20award%20in%202019%2F20.) Ruben Dias, while he is also strong on the ball. According to [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/332419/Show/Lloyd-Kelly), his passing is his standout strength, as evidenced by his [6.2 accurate long balls](https://www.whoscored.com/Regions/252/Tournaments/7/Seasons/8619/Stages/19794/PlayerStatistics/England-Championship-2021-2022) per 90 minutes, which ranks him in the league’s top 20.

His former manager Jonathan Woodgate has called him [‘exceptional’](https://theathletic.com/2536142/2021/04/23/physicality-finesse-and-a-knack-for-one-v-one-defending-this-is-lloyd-kelly/?source=twitteruk) when one against one with opponents, also emphasising that ‘he’s still young’ and can keep improving. Hopefully that improvement will be realised with Kelly as an Everton player.

**In other news, [fans were left raging by this transfer story](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/everton-fc-transfer-rumours/transfer-news-alexis-sanchez-inter-milan/).**