Bizarre Lloyd Kelly claims from Italy on potential Newcastle United return

One of the best pieces of business Newcastle United has done since the takeover was bringing in free agent Lloyd Kelly and flipping him for £20m a year later.

Lloyd Kelly arrived at Newcastle from Bournemouth after his Cherries contract expired.

It was Eddie Howe who took the left-back to Bournemouth in the first place, and he was keen to reunite with the defender and pounced on the opportunity to bring him to Tyneside.

Kelly made a slow start to life at Newcastle and was ultimately loaned out to Juventus in the January window, just months after arriving at Newcastle. That loan agreement contained an obligation to buy which saw Juve part with £20 million to keep the full-back.

While Kelly hasn't exactly set the world alight in Italy, he has become a regular in the side, making 46 appearances in all competitions last season.

Newcastle and Villa 'in the front row' for Kelly

However, reports from TuttoJuve in Italy now claim that the 27-year-old could be on his way back to the Premier League with Newcastle and Aston Villa at the front of the queue.

Juve values Kelly at €35 million (£30m), which means they could be in line to make a £10m profit from his sale.

After failing to qualify for the Champions League, it's believed that everyone bar Kenan Yildiz is up for sale at Juve, and given Kelly's valuation, a return to England seems like the most likely option. Not that we're buying it!

This makes less than no sense

Newcastle were linked with Kelly back in April too, so this claim isn't new.

Our big issue with this story is this: Why would Newcastle, who made a £20 million profit on Kelly, then go and spend £30m to bring him back if he wasn't successful in the first place?

Newcastle could do with more cover at left-back as Lewis Hall can't do it all on his own, but Lloyd Kelly is absolutely not the answer.

He's too old to be a firm target for Newcastle this summer. Young talents with room to grow on Tyneside is order of the day for Ross Wilson and his team, so a 27-year-old who has already failed to deliver while at the club is not someone we see Newcastle pursuing.

Italian media is always good for a chuckle, at least.