Newcastle United look set to keep Fenerbahce target Lloyd Kelly after sticking a hefty price tag on the experienced centre-back this month.

Jose Mourinho's side saw a £6m bid for Kelly, who signed for the Magpies on a free in the summer, rejected this week. That is because the Magpies value the 26-year-old at closer to £20m.

That sort of figure has put Fenerbahce off, according to those with knowledge of the talks in Turkey, given that signing Kelly for anything close to that valuation would represent one of the club's biggest ever signings. Mourinho's men have also been targeting Aston Villa defender Diego Carlos in recent weeks, another player who was heavily linked to Newcastle in years gone by.

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The transfer interest in Kelly comes at a time where Eddie Howe's side are looking to offload players to help with their ongoing PSR concerns. The sought-after centre-back arrived from Bournemouth last summer upon his contract coming to an end on the south coast - and selling him for anywhere near £20m would look promising on Newcastle's balance sheet.

However, Kelly is seen as a valuable squad player who is only just starting his journey on Tyneside. Howe rates the player after working with him at both aforementioned clubs and Kelly himself has expressed no desire to seek a move elsewhere despite limited game time at St James' Park thus far.

"Lloyd has not talked to me about leaving the football club," Howe said on Friday. "I think he's only just joined and I think there's an understanding from his perspective that he's got to earn the right to play and prove that he deserves to play ahead of other players.

"So there's been absolutely no issue. He's been great to work with and I knew he would be. He's waiting for his opportunities, so there's no issue with Lloyd at all.

"Whatever rumours you're hearing are likely from Fenerbahce and not from the player so I want to make that very clear and Lloyd's an important part of what we're doing."