Newcastle ready £12m transfer swoop to land versatile talent who Eddie Howe wants to sign

Newcastle are stepping up their plans to make a £12million summer move for Bournemouth centre-back Lloyd Kelly. The Saudi Arabia-backed north east outfit are looking to upgrade their squad as they aim to make fast progress up the Premier League table.

Magpies boss Eddie Howe is gradually steering Newcastle away from the relegation zone this season. A run of six wins in seven games, before recent losses at Chelsea and Everton, has lifted them away from the bottom of the league.

Newcastle are still not completely out of danger. But Newcastle now have a nine-point barrier between themselves and the bottom three – and Howe is already planning to strengthen his side to avoid another struggle next season.

Howe signed Kelly for Bournemouth from Bristol City in his last season in charge at the Vitality Stadium in a £13m deal in May 2019. And the defender is one of the Newcastle boss’ top targets for the summer.

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Burnley’s James Tarkowski and Manchester City’s Nathan Ake are among those to have been named. But Kelly is a player who he would love to reunite with. Howe did bring in Brighton centre back Dan Burn in January, and the former Fulham man has been a big success since his £13m move – but Howe is intent on further strengthening his defence.

Kelly, handed the captain’s armband at Bournemouth in the summer, is the youngest captain in the division. But Parker said recently: “Lloyd is a good type – fact. He has good values, good morals, an unbelievable professional, wants to learn constantly.”

Newcastle manager Howe made clear in January what he wants from any new players he brings in: “Positivity, leadership, winning mentality – you have to try and bring those types of characters into the group. If you’re bringing the opposite to that, the dynamics of the group can change in a negative way… they have to be the right new players.”