Jose Mourinho pushes to sign Newcastle star who left lasting impression on him
Newcastle defender Lloyd Kelly is wanted by Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce, talkSPORT understands. The Turkish side have turned their attention to the Englishman after failing to agree a deal with Aston Villa for Diego Carlos, with the Special One said to be an admirer of the Magpies man. GettyKelly has made just three league starts for Newcastle this season[/caption] Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is reportedly reluctant to sell Kelly, who joined from Bournemouth on a free transfer in the summer. But the 26-year-old’s time on Tyneside has not gone according to plan so far, who has started just five of his 13 appearances in all competitions this season. The Telegraph today reported that the Magpies are prepared to listen to Fenerbahce’s proposal, with Kelly slipping down the pecking order at St James’ Park. Both Dan Burn and fit again Sven Botman are currently preferred by Howe in the left-sided centre-back role. However, with Kelly capable of playing in both central defence and at left-back, his versatility is arguably what has seen him catch Mourinho‘s eye in the past. The 61-year-old came up against the former Cherries man on several occasions during his stint as Tottenham boss between 2019 and 2021. Kelly was part of a Bournemouth side that kept a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw against Mourinho‘s Spurs in a league clash in 2020. But negotiations between Newcastle and Fenerbahce will have to progressive significantly if the defender is to earn the chance to work with the legendary manager on a daily basis. It is understood that the Turkish side’s initial offer for Kelly was considerably below the Premier League side’s valuation of him. As things stands, talks over a move have not progressed, with Mourinho’s employers being required to substantially raise their proposal for Kelly if they are to resume negotiations. GettyJose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce are currently second in the Turkish Super Lig table[/caption] Kelly caught Mourinho’s eye whilst at Bournemouth, where he made over 141 appearancesGetty On Tuesday, Fenerbahce vice-president Acun Ilicah publicly announced the club’s interest in Kelly, with this believed to have annoyed Newcastle given how low their first bid for him was. Ilicah: “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.” But with sources from the north east outfit stressing that the two clubs are not close to agreeing a deal, the Turkish club will need to step up their efforts if they are to secure Kelly’s services. The former England youth international made the move to St James’ Park in June following the expiration of his contract at Bournemouth. This saw him reunited with former coach Howe, who first brought him to the south coast in 2019 when he joined in a £13million deal from first club Bristol City. Eddie Howe has managed Kelly at two different clubsGetty In four years at the Vitality Stadium, Kelly made 141 appearances in all competitions, and was a vital part of the side which secured promotion from the Championship in the 2021/22 campaign. That season, Kelly featured in 41 league games, scoring once, and was named in the Championship Team of the Season. He continued to impress for the Cherries in the top-flight, making 23 league appearances in each of the following two campaigns, despite various injuries seeing him ruled out for periods. Newcastle are not under pressure to sell in this transfer window, having avoided any punishment under the Premier League’s profit and sustainability pressures [PSR] for the last accounting period. However, the club are aware that selling a player would both boost their chances of signing a player this month, as well as helping them to avoid a potential PSR breach in the summer.
Newcastle defender Lloyd Kelly is wanted by Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce, talkSPORT understands.
The Turkish side have turned their attention to the Englishman after failing to agree a deal with Aston Villa for Diego Carlos, with the Special One said to be an admirer of the Magpies man.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is reportedly reluctant to sell Kelly, who joined from Bournemouth on a free transfer in the summer.
But the 26-year-old’s time on Tyneside has not gone according to plan so far, who has started just five of his 13 appearances in all competitions this season.
The Telegraph today reported that the Magpies are prepared to listen to Fenerbahce’s proposal, with Kelly slipping down the pecking order at St James’ Park.
Both Dan Burn and fit again Sven Botman are currently preferred by Howe in the left-sided centre-back role.
However, with Kelly capable of playing in both central defence and at left-back, his versatility is arguably what has seen him catch Mourinho‘s eye in the past.
The 61-year-old came up against the former Cherries man on several occasions during his stint as Tottenham boss between 2019 and 2021.
Kelly was part of a Bournemouth side that kept a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw against Mourinho‘s Spurs in a league clash in 2020.
But negotiations between Newcastle and Fenerbahce will have to progressive significantly if the defender is to earn the chance to work with the legendary manager on a daily basis.
It is understood that the Turkish side’s initial offer for Kelly was considerably below the Premier League side’s valuation of him.
As things stands, talks over a move have not progressed, with Mourinho’s employers being required to substantially raise their proposal for Kelly if they are to resume negotiations.
On Tuesday, Fenerbahce vice-president Acun Ilicah publicly announced the club’s interest in Kelly, with this believed to have annoyed Newcastle given how low their first bid for him was.
Ilicah: “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.”
But with sources from the north east outfit stressing that the two clubs are not close to agreeing a deal, the Turkish club will need to step up their efforts if they are to secure Kelly’s services.
The former England youth international made the move to St James’ Park in June following the expiration of his contract at Bournemouth.
This saw him reunited with former coach Howe, who first brought him to the south coast in 2019 when he joined in a £13million deal from first club Bristol City.
In four years at the Vitality Stadium, Kelly made 141 appearances in all competitions, and was a vital part of the side which secured promotion from the Championship in the 2021/22 campaign.
That season, Kelly featured in 41 league games, scoring once, and was named in the Championship Team of the Season.
He continued to impress for the Cherries in the top-flight, making 23 league appearances in each of the following two campaigns, despite various injuries seeing him ruled out for periods.
Newcastle are not under pressure to sell in this transfer window, having avoided any punishment under the Premier League’s profit and sustainability pressures [PSR] for the last accounting period.
However, the club are aware that selling a player would both boost their chances of signing a player this month, as well as helping them to avoid a potential PSR breach in the summer.
