'Juventus haven't given up': Journalist now shares latest on Lloyd Kelly's potential Newcastle United exit

When Newcastle United signed Lloyd Kelly on a free transfer in the summer from Bournemouth, how many of you thought to yourself 'That lad will be chased by Juventus in six months'? None? Yeah, that's what I thought.

Lloyd Kelly hasn't exactly made a mark at Newcastle since his summer arrival. He gave us some flashes of hope in his early appearances with an early assist, but while most players improve under Eddie Howe, Kelly seems to be going the other way.

As such, he's barely featured all season and since rumours have started swirling about a potential exit, it's been hard to see the downside if we're being honest.

One of the problems at the moment, though, is that the offers are either for sums way below what the club value him at currently (which is way higher than common sense dictates) or they are loan offers which don't interest Newcastle.

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Newcastle are reluctant to sanction a loan move for Lloyd Kelly

Transfer journalist Graeme Bailey has offered up an update to Geordie Boot Boys which provides a glimmer of hope of a deal being done, but nothing more than a glimmer.

“Juventus haven’t given up on him,” he said.

“Newcastle would only do a permanent deal though. Are Juventus willing to do that? It seems a bit unlikely at this juncture.

“It’s one to keep an eye on. I find it hard to believe Newcastle would do it. There are a few clubs in there, such as Borussia Dortmund and a few teams in France. Marseille have asked about him.

“Newcastle want £30million for him. That is what was coming out of the clubs who had it passed on from the Newcastle-end. Would they do an loan with an obligation to buy? I think they would, but not a loan with an option.”

Eddie Howe has said there'll be no more business in this window

Given that just a couple of days ago the figure was £25 million, we can't help but feel that figures are being plucked out of thin air here, but there is still some sense in what Bailey is saying.

We can't see Newcastle loaning out Kelly when there are clubs looking to buy Matt Targett. It's unlikely the club will let both leave, so whichever does go, the club will want to recoup a transfer fee.

It's worth noting, though, that Eddie Howe has said he doesn't expect Newcastle to be active at all in the last couple of days of the window so we may not see any more departures at all.