Report: West Ham want 23-year-old, manager was ‘blown away’ by him

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West Ham will reportedly make a move for AFC Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly to solve their injury problems at the back.

According to the Telegraph, David Moyes has identified the 23-year-old centre-back as the man to help ease the crisis currently plaguing West Ham’s defensive area. Both Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma are out with long-term injuries.

And because of this, a centre-back back become the number one signing for West Ham in January, with Kelly seemingly the player the Irons will work on signing in the New Year.

Moyes has a solid track record of signing Championship players for the Hammers, with both Jarrod Bowen and Said Benrahma impressing for the east London side since joining from the English second-tier.

And Kelly could be the next player to make the leap, with the 23-year-old versatile defender highly rated amongst those who have worked with him. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has previously stated how he was ‘blown away’ by the youngster’s maturity.

Indeed, a transfer could be difficult in January, though. Bournemouth are one of the favourites for automatic promotion this season from the Championship, and losing a star defender in Kelly to West Ham could be off the table for the Premier League side.

West Ham could have to break the bank to sign Kelly

With the 23-year-old taking the armband for Bournemouth in many games this season, Kelly is highly regarded by Cherries manager Scott Parker, meaning that a move for West Ham next month could be challenging.

Given the defender’s age, quality and experience, West Ham’s interest in Kelly could well come down to how much the Hammers are willing to spend on the youngster, which could easily reach the £20m range based on the Irons previous Championship signings.