After weeks of talks and suggestions it was edging ever closer, several outlets confirmed this morning that Lloyd Kelly is set to sign a five-year deal at Newcastle United ahead of his medical in the coming days.
The positives far outweigh the negatives for this signing, the first being that he’ll arrive on a free transfer. An under contract Kelly would easily cost over £20m in this day and age, so it’s not only a bargain but a deal that helps us comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and also frees up funds for us to spend elsewhere, with a right-winger, striker, goalkeeper and right-sided centre-back also wanted.
Then comes his versatility. He played 41 times at centre-back as he guided Bournemouth to promotion over the 2021/22 season. Since then, just over 50% of his appearances have come at left-back, showing he has become equally comfortable at full-back as he has in the middle.
It’s a valuable trait added to our squad and leads to two more positives. The first is his ability to play as a left-sided centre-back means he’ll be able to fill in for Sven Botman; who could miss the first few months of the 2024/25 season as he recovers from ACL surgery. The second is his profile and ability to play at LCB and LB makes him a long-term replacement for Dan Burn; who is out of contract next summer, 32-years-old and unlikely to play at left-back much longer as he enters the latter years of his career.
Kelly’s age is also ideal. At 25, he has experience and two years of Premier League football under his belt, but also plenty of room the improve. He’s also a player Eddie Howe, Jason Tindall and many members of our coaching staff will know well from their time together at Bournemouth. This will not only help him settle and build early relationships, but also means he’s likely to know a lot of Howe’s demands, making his transition into our team smoother.
Unlike foreign imports, the fact he’s played in the Premier…
Source link : https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2024/06/11/lloyd-kelly-11-positives-and-one-big-concern-as-newcastle-agree-five-year-deal/
Author : Olly Hawkins
Publish date : 2024-06-11 13:23:39
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