This summer the entire Manchester United backline should be under review, now one potential arrival has been suggested.
For Erik ten Hag, there’s one position which more than any other desperately needs attention this summer.
It’s the centre of defence, with his current batch of options at Manchester United, simply not good enough to play progressively.
To make it even more urgent, June could see the exit of both Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans as their contracts are due to expire, while Victor Lindelof will be for sale.
This leaves the position a priority, with arguably two needed.
Now links have been drawn from United to one current Premier League centre-half.
- READ MORE: Fabrizio Romano names the four positions he’s convinced Man Utd will sign players this summer
Manchester United tracking Lloyd Kelly
For United this summer, strengthening the defence is a lot more complicated than just signing a first-choice option and slotting him in.
Rather the entire department needs an overhaul and this includes players who may initially be the third choice.
This explains the links that have now emerged regarding the recruitment plans at United.
It’s according to GiveMeSport, Lloyd Kelly is being tracked by Manchester United ahead of a potentially free summer transfer.
The report was focussed upon Spurs’ summer transfer targets but soon ended up discussing United as it was mentioned that both the 25-year-old Bournemouth defender and Tosin Adarabioyo are being tracked by United.
The signing of Adarabioyo in particular is one which the newly appointed technical director at the club, Jason Wilcox, would be expected to be keen on, but Kelly would be a deal along similar lines, thus also makes sense.
Why Lloyd Kelly would be a superb coup for Jason Wilcox
For Wilcox, this summer could be far different to any other transfer window he has with United, as it’s still unclear when Dan Ashworth will arrive.
This gives him we imagine the deciding say in who comes and goes to a certain degree.
So he’ll be keen to endear himself to the club early and getting a player like Kelly for free would do just that.
The 25-year-old Bournemouth defender has previously been linked with a move to both Newcastle and Liverpool.
Eddie Howe is also a big fan of the defender, telling The Athletic as much during a 2020 interview.
“What I’m saying is what I believe, but with Lloyd, I truly believe he’s got everything he needs to be a top, top player.”
So Kelly would be a great move for United if he was to arrive for free, however, if given the choice between Kelly and Adarabioyo, it would have to be the latter each time.
That being said, either for free bolsters the ranks at United and is an upgrade on certain current options.