'Soon' - Liverpool & Tottenham target set to become Newcastle United's second summer signing

Lloyd Kelly is expected to join Newcastle United when his contract at AFC Bournemouth comes to an end this summer.

The 25-year-old is well known to Magpies’ boss Eddie Howe after he signed him for £13million from Bristol City in 2019. Kelly has gone to play 141 times for the Cherries and was captain when they were promoted back to the Premier League in 2021-22.

Kelly has reportedly attracted interest from the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur but Newcastle have emerged as clear frontrunners. As per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano: “Newcastle are prepared to complete Lloyd Kelly deal in the next weeks, working on formal details of the free transfer.

“Understand there’s no change of plans like happened for Tosin Adarabioyo; Kelly, expected to join #NUFC in July. Here we go, soon.”

Acquiring a player of Kelly’s quality - when fit - and experience on a free transfer is a positive move in line with Premier League Profitability of Sustainability Rules (PSR). It will allow United to focus on using their transfer budget to strengthen other positions.

Indeed, part of that budget will go towards signing Lewis Hall on a permanent basis. The 19-year-old spent the 2023-24 season on loan from Chelsea but Newcastle are understood to have triggered the performance-related criteria that activates a permanent switch for an initial £28million.

Howe’s men had also been in pole position to sign Tosin Adarabioyo when his contract expired at Fulham on June 30, however Chelsea hijacked the move over the weekend. Adarabioyo is due back in London this week to undergo his medical and put pen to paper on a long-term deal.