Newcastle reject Lloyd Kelly bid - Club 'irritated' but move could still happen

According to The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards, Newcastle United have indeed received a January bid for Lloyd Kelly.

It was reported yesterday that Fenerbahce had made an offer for the 26-year-old and that's now been backed up by sources closer to home - although it seems the Turkish giants will need to up their offer.

Edwards reveals that their opening bid falls well short of our valuation of Kelly, although the club haven't ruled out his sale given Sven Botman is back and Dan Burn has impressed in that left-sided centre-back role, along with the fact he could generate immediate profit after signing on a free over the summer.

Last night, Fenerbahce vice-president Acun Ilicah actually confirmed the club were discussing a deal for Kelly, saying: “We are in talks for Lloyd Kelly transfer. He’s a player we’re interested in. If we can reach an agreement we will transfer this player.”

It’s believed them going public following such a low offer has ‘irritated’ Newcastle chiefs, who have stressed that a deal is not close and won’t happen unless Fenerbahce up their bid ‘significantly.’

Jose Mourinho is thought to be the ‘driving force’ behind the bid, having been impressed by the left-sided defender during his time managing Man Utd and Spurs in the Premier League.

Quick sale could make sense

Kelly is already slipping down the pecking order under Eddie Howe. He was brought in as a squad player, but he may soon be our fifth choice centre-back if and when another arrives in 2025.

His hopes of playing at left-back also appear slim, with Lewis Hall nailing down that role in the side after a superb season so far.

We should not sell him for the sake of it or accept a low-ball offer - if he goes, we'd need more cover down that left side - but a decent fee could also boost our hopes of January signings and help our PSR situation, allowing us to make an immediate profit.

It sounds like he'll be going nowhere unless Fenerbahce up what appears to have been a cheeky opening offer, but it's a potential transfer saga we didn't see coming this month if they continue to make bids.