Newcastle United are considering whether to make a bid for Bournemouth centre-back Lloyd Kelly in January, according to 90min.com.

The website claims the Magpies are one of three “big hitters”, along with Liverpool and Tottenham, who could step up their interest in the defender when the transfer window reopens.

Spurs have already tried to sign Kelly, having a £20m offer knocked back last month, with Bournemouth demanding a larger sum due to the lack of time they had to find a replacement.

However, with the 24-year-old’s contract expiring at the end of the season, January will be the last opportunity for the Cherries to receive a fee for the defender.

Newcastle need to strengthen their options in the middle of defence

The Magpies have struggled defensively in the opening weeks of the season, having conceded 7 goals in their first 4 league matches.

An injury to Sven Botman has exposed the lack of depth that Eddie Howe’s side have at the back. Despite strengthening the two fullback positions, with the arrivals of Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall this summer, they failed to bring in a centre-half.

Dan Burn provided cover in the 3-1 defeat to Brighton last weekend, with Botman sidelined, but Newcastle only have three natural centre-backs in the first-team squad (including Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles).

Kelly is not the only centre-half that Newcastle have targeted

In addition to the Bournemouth defender, the Magpies have also been linked with the likes of Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo, Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen, Bayer Leverkusen pair Edmond Tapsoba & Odilon Kossounou, Benfica’s Antonio Silva and Torino’s Perr Schurrs.

Kelly would be the cheapest out of all the options being considered due to his contract situation and, when we factor in Financial Fair Play, the former England Under 21 international is likely to be the most realistic target heading into January.

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