Newcastle United have rejected a bid from Fenerbahce for defender Lloyd Kelly in the January transfer window, according to Luke Edwards.
Writing for The Telegraph, the reliable journalist claims that the Turkish club have made an opening offer to sign the 26-year-old centre-back, who can also play as a left-back, but it was nowhere near Newcastle’s valuation of the player.
Kelly joined the Magpies on a free transfer in the summer from AFC Bournemouth and has only started seven games in all competitions.
The Magpies defender is behind both Dan Burn and Sven Botman in the pecking order for the left-sided centre-back role, and Newcastle were actually willing to listen to Fenerbahce’s offers.
Edwards adds that “Newcastle sources have stressed” that talks have stalled at the moment, and the deal is not close. The Magpies now do not want to lose the player.
Fenerbahce vice-president Acun Ilicah went public with interest in Kelly and Newcastle were not happy with that approach. Jose Mourinho is pushing the club to conclude the deal, but the Turkish club will have to make a bid that is too good to turn down.
Since they have signed Kelly for free, whatever money they get from his transfer will represent a decent profit. This means there is a possibility of further negotiations if Fenerbahce come up with a better offer.
Newcastle have comfortably avoided any punishment under the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules, but they still need to sell a few players to make room for fresh additions.
As it stands, Kelly is going nowhere unless Fenerbahce come up with a tempting offer. Mourinho knows the player well, having faced him several times during his time as a manager for both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Newcastle will move into the top four in the Premier League tonight if they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers at St James’ Park.
