Howe to repeat transfer trick for £1m less as Newcastle firm up plans to poach captain

Newcastle United remain keen on a summer swoop for previous Eddie Howe signing Lloyd Kelly, whom they want for a lower fee than Bournemouth bought him for – according to reports.

Lloyd Kelly has been linked with Newcastle on a frequent basis since Howe took charge of Newcastle. The pair worked together at Bournemouth for a brief time. In fact, the current Newcastle boss was the man to sign him for the South Coast outfit.

Back in 2019, Bournemouth signed Kelly from Bristol City, for a fee believed to be £13m. Howe gave him eight Premier League appearances in their only season together, which culminated in relegation.

Since then, Kelly has established himself as a standout centre-back in the Championship. Becoming Bournemouth captain earlier this season, he has played 31 times in the 2021-22 edition of the league.

Bournemouth are in the automatic promotion places with 10 games of their season to go. They have a good chance of being able to look forward to a future in the Premier League again. But that may go for Kelly regardless of whether the club go up.

According to the Daily Express, Newcastle are now planning their opening offer for Kelly. They want to snatch him for a fee of £12m, which would be less than what Bournemouth originally spent.

There are two years remaining on the left-footer’s contract. Therefore, Bournemouth are in a fairly comfortable position when it comes to the negotiations.

Newcastle look to poach Everton's Ben Godfrey

Ben Godfrey has been linked with a move to Newcastle amid the Toffee's scrap with relegation.

But Howe has made him a top target as Newcastle continue to invest in their defence. They signed right-back Kieran Trippier, centre-half Dan Burn and left-back Matt Targett in January.

With Premier League survival looking more likely, they are making plans for the summer. Howe still wants another defender and the versatile Kelly could help.

He would follow in the footsteps of the likes of Callum Wilson, Matt Ritchie and Ryan Fraser in making the move from Bournemouth to Newcastle.

Lloyd Kelly not alone on Newcastle defensive shortlist

Meanwhile, reports over the weekend suggested Newcastle could make a move for another English defender, Ben Godfrey.

The Everton defender was supposedly a target for the club in January, like Kelly was too. But his current club did not want to let him go.

Everton now risk relegation more than Newcastle do, which could lead to an opportunity. The Sunday Mirror wrote that the Magpies may bid for Godfrey.

He was a £25m signing for Everton in 2020, but Newcastle could improve his £68,000-per-week salary. Godfrey may even be tempted to make the switch if Everton stay up still.

Step by step, Newcastle are working to bolster their backline. With some of the pieces falling into place, it appears there will be further bits of business in the summer.

READ MORE: Eddie Howe likely to look elsewhere as new suitors emerge for Newcastle loan star