Tottenham Hotspur were forced out of the race to sign an exciting young midfielder this summer after Chelsea became involved.
Midfield is an area where Ange Postecoglou is looking to add to at Tottenham with the likes of Conor Gallagher having been strongly linked.
However, their pursuit of another promising midfielder – following Lucas Bergvall‘s signing – has been halted after a recent development.
TBR Football understands that Aston Villa’s Omari Kellyman was of interest to Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton & Hove Albion and West Ham United.
Chelsea now look set to conclude a deal for the 18-year-old this summer with the midfielder having undergone his medical at Stamford Bridge.
Tottenham were keen to sign Aston Villa’s Omari Kellyman
Tottenham were not alone in their interest in the Villa midfielder this summer with a number of Premier League sides keeping tabs on Kellyman.
But TBR can reveal that once they found out the price Chelsea were paying – £19m – they backed away from the deal.
The youngster’s proposed move to west London is expected to be finalised this week with the player completing the final stages of his medical with the Blues.
TBR is told that the interested clubs price Kellyman at little over £10m with options possibly taking the move to £15m and they were not willing to join the bidding.
What Derby County’s recruitment manager said about Omari Kellyman
The 18-year-old made the move to Villa Park back in 2022 in a deal from Derby County where he had featured for the Rams’ U18s side.
Having played in both Villa’s U18s and U21s, Kellyman has been handed six opportunities in the Villa first team.
Unai Emery saw something in the 18-year-old as he handed him his first opportunity in a Villa shirt but the lure of £19m for such a young player has proven too much with Villa’s battle against PSR.
Although he has impressed the Villa manager, Derby’s recruitment manager Josh Butler has also had some big praise to say about the midfielder.
“The extent of his success will be circumstantial because it won’t be down to talent or attitude. His greatest strength is that you can’t not like him. He’s an absolute dream for a football club,” he told The Athletic.