Newcastle United are hard at work this month as loan manager Shola Ameobi seeks out suitable destinations for the club's best and brightest young talent.

In the last few days the Magpies have shipped exciting midfielder Travis Hernes out to Danish side Aalborg, Charlie McArthur has linked up with former Toon stars Paul Dummett and Mike Williamson at Carlisle United, and Alex Murphy is poised to join Bolton Wanderers until the end of the season.

The last of the aforementioned trio departing this month would have a big knock-on effect on what happens in Eddie Howe's first-team with regards to other potential exits this month, especially with senior centre-back Lloyd Kelly attracting major interest on the continent.

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The 26-year-old has been courted by Fenerbahce in recent days before the Turkish club baulked at Newcastle's hefty valuation of the player - thought to be between £20m-£25m. It remains to be seen whether Juventus will be equally put off by the demands of the St James' Park outfit, as the Serie A side move on to alternative targets after ditching plans to sign AC Milan star Fikayo Tomori.

Kelly has struggled for game time this term since signing on a free in the summer. The former Bournemouth star is the fourth choice central option in Howe's backline but is seen as a valued member of the senior side.

With fifth-choice defender, Murphy, poised to leave on loan, it puts added pressure on keeping Kelly this month. Failing that, with an attractive offer arriving, it is unfathomable to think Newcastle could lose both without finding some form of replacement.

The word from inside St James' Park of late, however, has been that incomings will be at a minimum this month, despite Howe hoping to be active during the winter trading period. Saturday's dismal defeat at Bournemouth highlighted the need for additional squad depth on Tyneside but all eyes are already on a summer spending spree when the club's PSR situation looks brighter.

Losing both Kelly and Murphy this month, along with U21 star McArthur, would leave Howe with Fabian Schar, Dan Burn, Sven Botman and Emil Krafth as his four options at centre-back. Failure to sign any replacements would then mean calling on the vastly inexperienced Cathal Heffernan, 19, or 20-year-old Ciaran Thompson from the youth setup.

There will, naturally, be a clamour to cash in on Kelly given his lack of a transfer fee just a few months ago but the exit would almost certainly put Newcastle in the awkward position of having to find a replacement as they try to keep their powder dry this month.