Allowing Lloyd Kelly to join Juventus during the January transfer window was a risky move for Newcastle United.
The 26-year-old’s departure has left Eddie Howe with fewer defensive options, as Kelly had been providing cover at both centre-back and left-back. That risk has already been highlighted, with Dan Burn and Sven Botman both uncertain for Saturday’s match against Manchester City.
Despite this, the Magpies deemed it a gamble worth taking, and new information further supports why this decision was the right one.
What has been said about Lloyd Kelly’s transfer to Juventus
As the transfer window neared its end, Juventus found themselves urgently seeking reinforcements, leading them to turn to Lloyd Kelly. The Serie A side secured him on loan with an obligation to buy, agreeing to pay Newcastle United £20 million for a permanent move in the summer.
Kelly’s departure strengthens Newcastle United’s PSR position, and new reports indicate that the financial benefit may be even greater than initially thought. According to The Athletic, sources within the club’s recruitment team believe Juventus has paid a “significantly inflated price” to secure Kelly’s services.
Juventus’ desperate need for a player like Lloyd Kelly underscores why Newcastle United had to seize the opportunity. With the £20 million offer on the table, the risk of letting him go was deemed worthwhile.
Newcastle United are becoming better sellers under Paul Mitchell
Under Paul Mitchell, Newcastle United are becoming more adept at selling players for significant fees. The sales of Kelly and Miguel Almirón have greatly improved the club’s PSR position, with over £30 million generated from two players who weren’t regular starters under Eddie Howe this season.
While the squad now lacks depth, these moves have positioned the club well to strengthen in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Paul Mitchell is achieving what his predecessor, Dan Ashworth, struggled with—securing decent fees for outgoing players. Under Ashworth, the notable departures were Chris Wood to Nottingham Forest and Allan Saint-Maximin to Al-Ahli. In terms of PSR, Newcastle needed to become better sellers, and Mitchell is ensuring that the club is now on the right path, starting with the overinflated fee they’ll receive for Kelly this summer.
