Newcastle United remain in contention to sign Bournemouth centre-back Lloyd Kelly, with Eddie Howe still keen on a reunion.
According to a report from Sunday Mirror, as relayed by TEAMtalk, Newcastle United remain interested in the services of Lloyd Kelly. The Bournemouth defender is being closely tracked by the Premier League outfit, with Eddie Howe intent on a move in the summer transfer window.
Newcastle are hoping to retain their Premier League status during the second half of the campaign in order to improve the chances of landing the defender. At the same time, they are hoping for Bournemouth to remain in the Championship, which could potentially help them bag the defender on a cut-price deal.
A product of the Bristol City youth academy, Kelly was brought in at Bournemouth by Howe in 2019. The young defender enjoyed a swift rise to prominence at the Vitality Stadium, notably becoming a first-team regular in his second season at the club, racking up 38 appearances in the Championship.
Although Bournemouth couldn’t gain back promotion, Kelly made a solid impression with his performances at the heart of the backline. His consistency has remained intact under new coach Scott Parker, with the Cherries now better positioned to secure promotion come May.
Newcastle United were linked with a swoop for the 23-year-old in the January transfer window. Their new manager Eddie Howe was reportedly keen on a potential reunion at St. James’ Park, but he ultimately had to settle for Dan Burn, who joined the club from Brighton & Hove Albion on deadline day.
Despite having missed out on the player, though, Howe appears to have identified Lloyd Kelly as an option for the summer transfer window. The Bournemouth centre-back is being primarily considered as a potential alternative to top-target Sven Botman, whose January move to St. James’ Park was denied by LOSC Lille.
The Dutchman, though, is expected to leave the French champions in the summer. However, with stiff competition from clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur, it won’t be surprising to see the Magpies exploring other options in the market. Lloyd, to that end, may fit the bill well given his wealth of experience in English football and the potential to become a top-class centre-back in the Premier League.
However, as iterated earlier, the move could hinge on various factors, including Bournemouth’s potential promotion to the Premier League that could put the Cherries in a better position to keep hold of the defender’s services.
