Three deadline-day decisions made by Newcastle United that will shape squad's future
LLOYD KELLY will complete a move to Serie A side Juventus ahead of this evening’s transfer deadline, but Newcastle United are determined to hold on to both Kieran Trippier and Matt Targett.
Kelly travelled to Italy yesterday to put the finishing touches to his transfer to Turin, with Newcastle officials having agreed to an initial season-long loan move that Juventus will be obliged to turn into a permanent transfer in the summer provided certain conditions, which the Magpies fully expect to be met, are fulfilled.
The deal could be worth £20m to Newcastle, who signed Kelly as a free agent last summer following his departure from Bournemouth.
Given that they signed the 26-year-old for nothing just over seven months ago, the Newcastle hierarchy felt they could not turn down the opportunity to sell Kelly for a considerable profit.
The deal will also free up a significant amount of room on the wage bill, with Kelly, who was a late substitute in Saturday’s home defeat to Fulham, reportedly earning around £100,000-a-week.
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At this stage, there is no intention to sign a defensive replacement before the window closes at 11pm tonight, with Magpies officials confident there is sufficient defensive cover to see the club through to the end of the campaign.
However, Kelly’s departure does mean that Newcastle will not be considering offers for either Trippier or Targett, who have both been the subject of external approaches in the last 48 hours.
Turkish side Galatasaray are keen to sign Trippier, and are willing to consider both an initial loan move or an immediate permanent deal for the right-back, who has entered the final 18 months of his current contract on Tyneside.
However, while Howe was willing to let Kelly leave as Newcastle have a reasonable amount of cover in the centre-half position with Emil Krafth having completed his recovery from injury and Jamaal Lascelles set to return to full fitness before the end of the season, the situation with Trippier is different.
The 34-year-old is currently the only natural cover for first-choice right-back Tino Livramento, and came off the bench in the second half of Saturday’s defeat to Fulham. Trippier could return to the starting line-up for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Arsenal if Howe decides to make defensive changes.
The Newcastle boss is also determined to hold on to Targett, who was the subject of a loan offer from Championship side Watford yesterday.
Last week, the Magpies were considering offers for Targett, with Leeds United having been heavily touted as a potential destination for the defender. However, Kelly’s exit means Howe no longer wants to lose Targett this month.
