Newcastle could well be looking for a left-back this coming summer, who comes into the side almost immediately and then Dan Burn can revert to center-back and fight for his place in that position.
We know Eddie Howe keeps saying that Burn is an important player and leader at Newcastle, but when he gives away goals due to his lack of speed at left-back, he cannot start just because of his strength at set plays at both ends of the field.
And it just so happens that 25-year-old Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly will be available in the summer as a free agent, when his contract expires at the Cherries.
Eddie Howe was the Bournemouth manager when the 6ft 3ins tall Kelly was signed in the summer of 2019 from Bristol City for around £13M, so the Newcastle head coach will know a lot about the player.
And Kelly, who can play at center-back and left-back, has been in excellent form this season at the south coast side.
His good form has brought interest from AC Milan, Monaco, and Stuttgart in Europe and these clubs have already inquired and apparently even made proposals to the defender: in the Premier League, Liverpool and Spurs are said to be interested.
When Kelly was at Bournemouth when Howe was there, he only played 9 times because of an ankle injury but Howe should know enough about the player to know whether he would be a good acquisition for Newcastle.
He has played 131 times for the Cherries with 3 goals and 7 assists.
We expect Newcastle to have some older players leave the club this summer, maybe players like Jamaal Lascelles, Paul Dummett, Matt Ritchie, and even Callum Wilson.
That will help reduce the wage bill so we can bring in new players and have a more competitive squad for first-team places next season.
What do you think?
Loading ...
15 comments so far
Mund
Feb 12, 2024 at 12:29 PM
Comment #1😆 no Raj nobody is being bias or I should say I’m not at least and that should be good enough for you to accept
Raj of Hailsley
Feb 12, 2024 at 12:29 PM
Comment #2The Borrowers:
Dylan double
Dylan Stephenson (South Shields):
Two goals for Dylan on Saturday as the Mariners won 5-0 at Gloucester City in National League North.
Jeff Hendrick (Sheffield Wednesday):
The Owls defeated Birmingham City 2-0 at Hillsborough in the Championship on Friday without Jeff and it’s now confirmed that he wasn’t named in their 25 man squad for the remainder of the season.
However he remains on loan at Wednesday and as they only used 22 of the 25 slots, he can be added at any time (unlike the PL equivalent).
Ryan Fraser (Southampton):
An eventful 5-3 home win over Huddersfield Town in the Championship on Saturday saw Fraser complete 71 minutes without adding to his tally of goals or assists.
Jamal Lewis (Watford):
A 90 minute shift for Lewis as the Hornets lost 1-2 at home to Leicester City in the Championship on Saturday.
Isaac Hayden (QPR):
The midfielder completed 86 minutes at Loftus Road against former club Norwich City in the Championship on Saturday. It finished 2-2.
Kelland Watts (Wigan Athletic):
Still no sign of Kell as the Latics lost 1-2 at home to Exeter City in League One on Saturday.
Matty Bondswell (Newport County):
In-form County continued their recent good form with a 3-0 win at Walsall in League Two on Saturday. However it was achieved without Matty.
Michael Ndiweni (Annan Athletic):
Striker Michael played 79 minutes of a 2-1 away win at
Hamilton Academical in Scottish League One on Saturday but was unable to get off the mark for his new club.
Rodrigo Vilca (Vozdovac):
The Serbs returned to action on Saturday after their elongated mid-season break, losing 1-2 at Red Star Belgrade in the Super Liga. There was no sign of Vilca in the matchday squad but he did appear in recent training photos.
Garang Kuol (Volendam):
The Australian international had to be content with a place on the bench at home to PSV in the Eredivisie on Sunday. He appeared in the 78th minute with his side trailing 1-3; the final score was 1-5.
Yankuba Minteh (Feyenoord)
A 70 minute shift for Minteh on Sunday, as Feyenoord beat Sparta 2-0 at home to win the Rotterdam derby. Our man took his leave with the scoring complete.
Harrison Ashby (Swansea City):
Harrison’s return from a hamstring issue proved to be short-lived and the on-loan full back is now sidelined again for “a few weeks” with “a muscular problem”.
Raj of Hailsley
Feb 12, 2024 at 12:29 PM
Comment #3They must have just updated it.
Davas
Feb 12, 2024 at 12:30 PM
Comment #4Raj
Thar is a cop out. Its just so easy to stick a label on people to stunt any discussion.
Raj of Hailsley
Feb 12, 2024 at 12:31 PM
Comment #5Hendrick not even in the squad, foo#er getting £40K pw for nothing.
Mund
Feb 12, 2024 at 12:31 PM
Comment #6Davas
Howay you know Raj loves a copout 😉
Mund
Feb 12, 2024 at 12:31 PM
Comment #7I remember when someone said on here that Hendrick was a coup 😆
Raj of Hailsley
Feb 12, 2024 at 12:34 PM
Comment #8Davas,
Que?
Novocastrian66
Feb 12, 2024 at 12:34 PM
Comment #9Bloody Hell Mund, who was that?
I see wearside jack scored for QPR at the weekend.
Mund
Feb 12, 2024 at 12:34 PM
Comment #10Novo
Some lad from darn south mate
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Feb 12, 2024 at 12:35 PM
Comment #11So if we are sticking with our existing style Kelly makes sense
He’s essentially a Burn esque player with pace so can become part of the 3 cb tucking in but equally can fly forward and be involved in attack a bit more if needed
I have always liked him as a player and 25 is a good age for him to make the step up
So he would kind of cover the left back/ fast CB that we want especially if FFP is tight so no transfer fees and surely wouldn’t want a daft wage
Adamn_92
Feb 12, 2024 at 12:37 PM
Comment #12Kelly on a free makes sense, not sure about the Billing rumours though.
Would have made sense in January, but don’t see the logic in signing Billing when we’ll have a whole summer to bring someone in far better or far younger with potential to be far better.
Kelly maybe, Billing no chance in my opinion.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Feb 12, 2024 at 12:38 PM
Comment #13Not to say this is who I would go all in for!! Personally would want a specialist Trippier level left back but it makes sense if we are directing funds for other key areas
Raj of Hailsley
Feb 12, 2024 at 12:38 PM
Comment #14Hayden-Gate ajar. Bias-Gate closed. Billing-Gate wide open.
lesh
Feb 12, 2024 at 1:11 PM
Comment #15Jail
Billing-Gate wide open? Sounds a bit fishy!.