Newcastle United will try to sign Lloyd Kelly this summer if Bournemouth do not get promoted, transfer expert Pete O’Rourke has told Give Me Sport.

The Lowdown: Centre-backs wanted

The Magpies’ chase for a new centre-back in January was well documented, with approaches for both Diego Carlos and Sven Botman, who was the primary target, eventually coming to nothing.

Dan Burn arrived in a £13m deal, but that seemingly isn’t stopping PIF from searching for more reinforcements for the summer.

Indeed, a Tyneside source recently told Football Insider that Magpies scouts are tracking Kelly at Bournemouth, and now O’Rourke has delivered his own update on the Cherries star.

The Latest: Summer move

Speaking to GMS, O’Rourke said: “If Bournemouth don’t go up, I think Newcastle will revisit that one in the summer and they might even revisit it if Bournemouth do go up.”

Kelly is left-footed like Botman, so is the perfect alternative to the Netherlands international, with Milan now seemingly in the driving seat for the Lille star.

The Verdict: Get it done

If a deal for Botman isn’t possible, Eddie Howe could do a lot worse than moving for Kelly instead.

At about 6 foot, he isn’t the biggest defender around, but more than makes up for that with his blistering pace and versatility, capable of playing as a left-back or centre-back.

Hailed as a ‘rolls-royce’ and ‘top player’ by Bournemouth boss Scott Parker, Kelly has started 24 of a possible 30 Championship matches this campaign, winning three aerial duels per game and making over four clearances per match too, the most of any Cherries player with more than three appearances.

His partnership with the experienced Gary Cahill has been crucial in firing his side into the promotion battle, and the fact that he has worked with Howe before is just the cherry on top.

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