According to journalist Dean Jones, Newcastle United are interested in signing Lloyd Kelly from Bournemouth this summer.
The Magpies brought in five new faces during the January transfer window, and they are unlikely to stop there. Eddie Howe, who replaced Steve Bruce in November, was formerly Cherries boss, and although he resisted the temptation to sign any of his former players two months ago, Ryan Fraser has flourished as he did under Howe at Dean Court, even being nominated for the February Premier League Player of the Month.
Would you like to sign Kelly?
Yes
No
Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones revealed the Toon are eyeing a move for defender Kelly. He said: “I still think that Lloyd Kelly is somebody that they’re really interested in getting.”
What could this mean for Newcastle? We take a look at the potential consequences…
Howe continues search for homegrown talent
Matt Targett, Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn, Chris Wood and Bruno Guimaraes all made the move to St. James’ Park in January. Of that quintet, only Guimaraes had not played in the Premier League previously, while three had featured heavily in the English top flight during the first half of the campaign.
Given the predicament Newcastle found themselves in, battling against relegation, it made sense to sign players who knew the league and were aware of the challenges ahead.
With the reported interest in Kelly, it appears Howe will continue to look at players who are comfortable in English football despite the huge sums available to him.
The temptation to splurge on stars from across the globe is hard to resist, but Newcastle are not yet at the stage where they can compete with the division’s elite sides. That will take time, and players such as Kelly can provide the base to propel the club up the table.
Kelly offers versatility
While £9m-valued Kelly has been selected at centre-back in each of his 32 outings in all competitions this campaign, he is also adept at left-back, having spent half of the previous season in that position. He did not appear to be a particularly attacking full-back, but still provided four assists throughout the 2020/21 campaign.
True versatility is a skill that few possess, but Kelly appears to – he has also played in multiple positions across the back four for England’s U21s. He even managed one game at right-back earlier in his career, although it would be too much to say he is comfortable in that role. His flexibility, though, could be put to good use by Howe.
TIF Verdict…
Having regularly captained a side that looks set to earn promotion back to the Premier League – Bournemouth are six points clear of the play-off spots with two games in hand – Kelly has proven his worth in the second tier, and at 23 years of age, is only going to improve, especially if surrounded by top players, as could soon be the case at Newcastle.
Many Toon supporters may be more excited by links to the biggest names in football, and there is no doubt the new owners have the funds to make speculation a reality.
However, potential signings like Kelly could have the biggest impact. For example, Pablo Zabaleta and Vincent Kompany were hardly household names when Manchester City signed them having come into new wealth themselves, and both eventually left as club legends. Patience, for Newcastle, will be key.