Newcastle agree to sign Lloyd Kelly for free after leaving Bournemouth

Lloyd Kelly, 25, left Bournemouth at the end of the season after his contract expired. Photo: Getty Images/Robin Jones

Newcastle United are expected to complete the signing of former Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly on a free transfer in what will be their first breakthrough of the crucial window.

Having missed out on the defender » Fulham's Tosin Adarabyo, who opted to join Chelsea instead, was a breakthrough in negotiations. for Kelly would be a big boost for manager Eddie Howe.

Howe signed Kelly to Bournemouth from Bristol City for £13 million back in 2017, and Newcastle felt that signing the 25-year-old player offers excellent value for money as a free agent. The defender is expected to sign a five-year contract.

Negotiations lasted several weeks and Kelly had other offers to consider, but he decided that Newcastle were the ideal club for him and he was keen to work with Howe. again.

Sources have told Telegraph Sport that the deal has been verbally agreed with the player and his representatives and he will become the club's first summer signing when the transfer window officially opens.

Kelly can play as a left center back or left back and would add depth to a defense that will be without either Sven Botman or Jamaal Lascelles until the end of 2024.

Kelly has also played. he's had his fair share of injury problems, but he should still have the peak years of his career ahead of him, and he has previous experience playing for Howe, which should mean he needs little time to adjust to playing for his new team .

Newcastle will now focus their recruitment efforts on a right winger, a right centre-back and a striker. Newcastle sources have admitted their list of targets is slim this summer and some of their targets are likely to be expensive and difficult to wrest away from their current clubs.

The depth of Newcastle's squad was revealed last season during the crippling injury crisis and the club hierarchy are determined to strengthen Howe's hand as they look to challenge for a top-six finish next season.

They also need to sell players this month and, according to Telegraph Sport, they are currently considering a number of offers for exciting young striker Yankuba Mintech.

Forward Callum Wilson could also be sold, with the 32-year-old believed to be that the -old is interested in a new challenge after falling behind Alexander Isak in the pecking order at St James' Park. Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin is one of the names mooted as a replacement for Wilson should he leave.

Newcastle were interested in signing Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford but are yet to assess the player with an offer.

After failing to qualify for European football next season, Newcastle switched goalkeeper targets from Arsenal's Aaron Ramsdale, who could be a direct competitor to current number 1 Nick Pope, to the youngster goalkeeper who will learn from him next season.

Talks with Burnley will continue, although a deal is unlikely to be completed before early July due to concerns over profits and sustainability. The club needs to raise money through sales by the end of June.