Newcastle United are prepared to make a bid for Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly – but their offer would be less than what the Cherries paid.
That’s according to The Express, who claim that Newcastle are planning to offer around £12million to bring Kelly to Tyneside this summer.
Eddie Howe is keen to reunite with Kelly this summer having signed him for Bournemouth from Bristol City back in the summer of 2019.
Yet the deal Bournemouth struck for Kelly back then was around £13million potentially rising all the way up to a huge £21million.
Kelly still has two years left on his contract so why on earth would Bournemouth sell their captain for a loss?
That just doesn’t seem likely at all, especially with Bournemouth no doubt aware of the huge money Newcastle will have at their disposal this summer.
Newcastle’s takeover means clubs may hike up prices in the hope of a big pay day, and Bournemouth would be no different.
Selling their skipper for less than they paid three years ago just doesn’t sound likely, meaning Newcastle may have to come up with a better offer.
Kelly, 23, has been hailed as an ‘unbelievable’ professional by Bournemouth boss Scott Parker. That’s ultimately why he’s captain at the Vitality Stadium despite more experienced players being in the squad.
That’s why Howe wants to bring Kelly to Newcastle even if the defender didn’t make all that many appearances under Howe at Bournemouth.
Injuries were a problem in Kelly’s first season at Bournemouth but Howe was clearly impressed enough to keep tabs on him.
Newcastle may well fancy securing Kelly, but we can’t see any deal happening at £12million.
The Magpies will probably have to do a lot better than that, especially if Bournemouth win promotion back to the Premier League.
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