- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
HITC understands that Newcastle United’s summer transfer plans will be amended after captain Jamaal Lascelles was ruled out with a long-term knee injury.
On Sunday, Newcastle fans received the bad news when the club confirmed that the 30-year-old is set to be out of action for up to nine months.
This comes after he was forced off in the first half of Newcastle United’s stunning 4-3 win over West Ham United on Saturday.
Sven Botman suffered a similar injury earlier in the month, but Newcastle were already in the market for a new central defender, so that did not alter their thinking.
However, the injury to Jamaal Lascelles means that the club’s hierarchy are already making it known to their footballing recruitment team that two central defenders are likely to be required this summer rather than just the initial one.
As it stands, Fabian Schar is the only out-and-out first-choice central defender available to Eddie Howe, although, Dan Burn is set to switch back into central defence from his left-back role.
It is understood that the club are set to hand homegrown Welsh international Paul Dummett another year to his contract – given his ability to also provide cover.
Newcastle pushing for Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly
HITC understands that Newcastle are set to step up their interest in soon-to-be free agent Lloyd Kelly in the coming weeks.
The Bournemouth star is out of contract in the summer and he can operate as a left-back, as well as at centre-half.
Aside from a number of injury issues, the 25-year-old has been a regular for Andoni Iraola’s side this season, including playing at left-back, both home and away, as the Cherries picked up four points against the Magpies.
The Englishman came through the ranks at Bristol City and has been at Bournemouth since 2019.
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