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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
David Byrom

'Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal are all interested' - Bristol City star named one of the best young players in the Championship

Lloyd Kelly has been named one of the best young stars in the Championship.

BBC Sport made the list of rising talent in the division, and heaped a lot of praise on the young Bristol City defender.

Pointing to the amount of clubs who have been linked with the 20-year-old, they were also impressed by Kelly's versatility at the back.

Lloyd Kelly speaks to Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson (Rogan/JMP)

They said: "Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal are among the clubs reportedly interested in Lloyd Kelly, the latest off the increasingly reliable production line in operation at Ashton Gate.

"With Bristol City since the age of 12, a handful of games last season preceded his breakthrough campaign where he has shifted to the left from his age-grade role at centre-back.

"Robins boss Lee Johnson described the 6ft 3in rookie as a "Rolls Royce of a player" before even handing him a start and the chance to show his class and ability to represent England at Under-20 and Under-21 level.

"Strong in the air, composed and imposing, little wonder plenty are keeping tabs on a player whose current deal still has two years to run."

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Yet Johnson may well take issue with the labelling of Kelly as a left-back.

The Robins boss has previously said that he can foresee the defender moving over to a permanent role in the centre of defence in future.

He said: "I think he'll end up a centre-half, at 24, 25 he'll roll into that centre-half position.

"I believe in the person first and foremost and the attributes he's got as a football, I think, can take him all the way to the top."

Also included on the list were Swansea City's Daniel James, Norwich City's Max Aarons, Hull City's Jarrod Bowen, Leeds United's Kalvin Phillips, Birmingham City's Che Adams and Brentford's Neal Maupay.

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