Spurs snubbed after £20m bid for ‘important’ Premier League star; Johnson to cost ‘over £40m’
Bournemouth have rejected a £20million bid from Tottenham for central defender Lloyd Kelly, according to a report from The Athletic.
Tottenham’s interest in Kelly was first reported by Fabrizio Romano – who claimed they were ‘considering’ signing the player – on Thursday evening.
It was emphasised that the signing depended on outgoing transfers and with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg expected to join Fulham, Ange Postecoglou’s side have made a bid.
Unfortunately for the Australian manager, the Cherries have ‘rejected’ a £20m offer, according to The Athletic.
The report says the Spurs have been interested in Kelly all summer, which does not explain why they have waited until deadline day to make an opening bid.
Bournemouth see Kelly as an ‘important’ player who can operate effectively as a left-back and centre-back.
£20m does not meet the south coast club’s valuation of the former Bristol City defender.
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Obviously, the mad rush to sign a replacement adds to Bournemouth’s reluctance to sell the 24-year-old, who made 23 Premier League appearances last season and has played 119 times for the Cherries.
As well as Hojbjerg, versatile defender Japhet Tanganga is expected to leave Spurs on Friday, with German outfit Augsburg leading the race as things stand.
Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez are also up for sale, the report adds. Dier has been linked with Bayern Munich and Sanchez was the subject of an accepted £12m bid from Spartak Moscow earlier this summer.
One player Spurs are expected to sign on deadline day is Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson.
Football Insider reported on Friday morning that Johnson ‘expects’ to sign for the Londoners on Friday.
And it has been revealed by multiple journalists that he is closing in on a move worth around £50m.
Johnson had also attracted interest from Brentford earlier this summer, with the Bees unable to meet Forest’s high valuation of the 22-year-old.
Gary Jacob of The Times says Spurs have reached an agreement with Forest and will pay ‘over £40m’.
It is added that the Reds ‘need to sell Johnson’ in order to meet Financial Fair Play rules.
Jacob does say Spurs will increase their offer for Kelly with Hojbjerg expected to sign for Fulham.
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