'Deal done' - Spurs and West Ham blow as Premier League rivals win transfer race

Newcastle United are on the verge of confirming the free transfer of Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly, beating Premier League rivals West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur to the major summer coup.

The Magpies have been favourites to bring the 25-year-old to Tyneside in recent weeks and the club's intention was solidified when losing the race for Fulham centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo to Chelsea earlier this month. Newcastle United will start the upcoming top flight campaign without defenders Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman due to ACL injuries, making recruitment in that position a priority.

Spurs are believed to have had a £30 million bid for Kelly rejected by Bournemouth last summer and were one of the clubs The Chronicle named as interested in bringing the player in after the expiry of his contract at the Vitality Stadium. West Ham were also named as a Premier League rival holding late interest in a late swoop to crash the Magpies' deal, just as Chelsea had done with Adarabioyo, as new boss Julen Lopetegui looks to breathe new life into an ageing Hammers defence.

The Telegraph now reports that Kelly, who was signed at Bournemouth by Eddie Howe for £13 million in 2017, is ready to put pen to paper on a five-year deal in the North East. The deal has been verbally agreed and Kelly is expected to become Newcastle United's first summer signing when the window opens.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano added: "Lloyd Kelly’s medical tests as Newcastle player have been booked. Deal done as revealed earlier today. Kelly has already spoken to Eddie Howe, ready for new chapter at #NUFC until June 2029.”

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Howe is known to be a big fan of the player thanks to their time together in Bournemouth. Speaking as the defender began to breakthrough in 2020, he said: “With Lloyd, I truly believe he’s got everything he needs to be a top, top player. His career is out in front of him. If he can stay free from injury, then he can achieve so many great things.

“I think one of the great things about Lloyd when I first met him – I was blown away by how mature he was. How much mental capacity he had to want to improve and learn and to become the very best player that he can be.

“Mentally he was very, very good anyway. I think from this spell on the sidelines he’s probably learned a lot about himself and his ability to deal with setbacks.

“He’s had a lot of time on his own to think about where he wants to go with his career. We hope we benefit from that in the future. He’s certainly someone who I think could have leadership capabilities as he grows through his career.”