MEDICAL PLANNED AS NEWCASTLE LAND DEAL WHICH MAY SEE EVERTON’S £20M MAN LEAVE FOR ITALY
Lloyd Kelly could seal his move from AFC Bournemouth to Premier League rivals Newcastle United this week in a deal that may pave the way for Ben Godfrey to leave Everton for Italy.
HITC understands that, after months of speculation, the out-of-contract centre-half is on the verge of finally confirming where he will be playing his football next season.
Lloyd Kelly, so impressive under Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth last season, had reportedly been on the radars of Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, not to mention Italian giants AC Milan and Roma. But Newcastle United are now potentially just days away from confirming Kelly’s reunion with one-time Cherries boss Eddie Howe.
HITC have been told that Newcastle have agreed personal terms with Kelly’s camp. The former Bristol City defender is due to undergo medical tests this week, and will then sign a five-year contract at St James’ Park.
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United set to seal Lloyd Kelly deal
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Kelly, a left-footed centre-half who could help offset the loss of the stricken Sven Botman, heads to Tyneside after Newcastle missed out on another free-agent defender. Tosin Adarabioyo made the short switch from Fulham to West London neighbours Chelsea on Friday.
Newcastle have also considered Nicolas Valentini of Boca Juniors. Valentini is another name to keep an eye on, talks over a new contract at the Argentine giants stalling.
“Lloydy’s done ever so well since I’ve been here,” Kelly’s former Bournemouth coach and one-time Newcastle defender Jonathan Woodgate said during their time together on the South Coast (Daily Echo).
“He has got talent. He’s got a lot of attributes which Premier League teams look at. He’s got some strings to his bow now. He can play very well at centre-half and he can play very well at left-back.
“As long as he keeps on doing that, he might not be at Bournemouth for long, because he’s a really good player. He just looks like a bit of a Rolls-Royce doesn’t he? Lloydy’s got big attributes to go higher.”
Ben Godfrey could leave Everton for Italy
Kelly’s arrival at Newcastle may set off a chain of events which sees Ben Godfrey bring an end to his Everton career this summer.
HITC understands that Kelly, having already given his word to Howe and co, turned down late attempts from AC Milan and Roma to hi-jack The Magpies deal.
The Serie A duo could now shift their focus to Godfrey. Four year after joining Everton from Norwich to the tune of £20 million, Godfrey has admires in Italy and has turned down offers to extend his stay at Goodison Park.
We reported back in January, meanwhile, that Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United, Luton and Leeds were all keen on the versatile defender. Only one of that quartet – Forest – will be playing Premier League football next term, however, defeat to Southampton in the Championship play-off final seemingly denying Daniel Farke from reuniting with his former Canaries colossus at Elland Road.
