Lloyd Kelly spoke to two Newcastle stars before transfer but didn't need Eddie Howe sales pitch
Newcastle United star Lloyd Kelly admits speaking to Eddie Howe and former team-mates before making the move to St James' Park
Newcastle United's newest recruit, Lloyd Kelly, insists Eddie Howe didn't need to lay on a big sales pitch when attempting to sign the Bournemouth defender on a free transfer.
The pair worked together for just one season on the south coast, with Howe purchasing the defender from Bristol City in a deal worth £13m. Kelly would go on to make 141 appearances at Bournemouth before allowing his contract to run down this summer.
Newcastle moved quickly to kickstart their own summer business, tying the centre-back to a five-year deal with the option of a further one-year extension. Speaking in his first interview with the club, Kelly insists he was already fully aware about the size and scale of his new side before his conversations with Howe in recent weeks.
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"I think Newcastle as a whole - everyone knows their backstory and how big the club is," he told Newcastle's official media channels. "For me to come here, speaking to the gaffer, it didn't really take much.
"The gaffer knows how highly I think of him and the way he shapes his teams, and want his teams to play, suits my attributes so it kind of just made sense."
Kelly admits he also spoke with some familiar faces about his new move, with former Bournemouth team-mate Callum Wilson reaching out along with ex-England under-21 co-star Harvey Barnes.
Kelly was not short of offers this summer but knowing some key Newcastle stars and enjoying his previous stint with Howe down south went a long way to ensuring the Magpies won the competitive race for his signature. The 25-year-old will now enjoy a few weeks of rest before officially signing on July 1, and already he is looking forward to kicking on under the 'gaffer' for the second time.
"From when I moved from the Championship to the Premier League I was still so young," Kelly added when asked about Howe. "Even though we only had a year together, it kind of felt like it was unfinished. The way he's helped develop players over the years, I'm excited to start this journey and see where it goes."
Kelly will wear the No 25 shirt on Tyneside and will slot straight into Newcastle's backline given the continued absence of fellow left-sided centre-back Sven Botman.