'No doubts' - Spurs and West Ham beaten to 'unbelievable' signing by Premier League rivals

Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham are to be beaten to the signing of Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly by Premier League rivals Newcastle United this summer.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano confirmed that there were 'no doubts' as to the player's future after it was announced that he would leave Bournemouth as a free agent. The south coast club published its final release list on Wednesday with a statement that read: "AFC Bournemouth can confirm its list of retained players following the end of the 2023/24 Premier League season.

"Lloyd Kelly is among five members of the first-team squad to depart the club upon the conclusion of their contracts, alongside Emiliano Marcondes, Darren Randolph, Jamal Lowe and Ryan Fredericks.

"Defender Kelly played 141 times for AFC Bournemouth in all competitions, as well as captaining the club to promotion back to the Premier League in 2021/22."

Newcastle United had long been frontrunners to land the highly-rated 25-year-old on a free transfer as Eddie Howe looks to fill gaps left by serious ACL injuries to Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman. However, Spurs and West Ham had also been linked with a move for Kelly.

Tottenham Hotspur are believed to have had a £30 million bid rejected by Bournemouth last summer and Sky Sports reported that the club were still keeping tabs on the centre-back in January. Meanwhile, Julen Lopetegui is known to have refreshing an ageing defence as a priority at West Ham this summer and the club had been linked with Kelly by teamTALK in February, even before the Spaniard's arrival.

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However, it appears that Tyneside is the destination for Kelly, who joined Bournemouth from Bristol City for £13 million in 2019. At that time, the player was hailed as an 'unbelievable kid' by former Bristol City manager Lee Johnson. He has since gone on to rack up 54 Premier League appearances in an injury-blighted few years.

Taking to social media platform X, Romano wrote: "Bournemouth confirm Lloyd Kelly to leave as free agent… Kelly will become Newcastle player at the beginning of July. No doubts, no changes."

It's a major coup for Newcastle United, who appear to have missed out on Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo despite advanced contract talks. The Cottagers star, who was today also confirmed to be leaving the club this summer, is on the verge of completing a move to Chelsea.