Report: Newcastle have agreed deal to sign 25-year-old Premier League defender on free transfer

Things have moved quickly this week for two of Newcastle United's primary transfer targets.

Eddie Howe is shopping smart in the summer transfer window, looking at players who will be out of contract in the off-season and making a move to snap them up before other clubs have the chance.

It was revealed earlier this week that talks with Tosin Adarabioyo had progressed and the deal was likely to be concluded in the coming days after the 26-year-old told Fulham he'd be leaving at the end of the season.

Now, The Daily Mail is reporting that terms have now been agreed with 25-year-old Lloyd Kelly who set to leave Bournemouth when his contract expires at the end of the month.

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Newcastle have acted quickly to get their priority targets early

Moves for these two players have been rumoured for weeks and it seems that Eddie Howe has got both of his men.

It's a rapid start to the summer transfer business by the club and one that will hopefully continue as the European Championships and indeed the COPA America will make things tricky for clubs wishing to sign players who are partaking in those tournaments, not only because of the logistics of negotiating while the player is away on international duty, but because their current clubs will want to use their performances in the tournament to boost their asking price.

For now though, Newcastle bringing in Kelly and Adarabioyo is perfect business, not just in terms of them being free transfers but how they add much-needed depth to a position that was sorely lacking, especially in the wake of Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles' ACL injuries which will keep them both out until the New Year.

Kelly's versatility will be a big asset for Eddie Howe

Eddie Howe is already familiar with Lloyd Kelly having signed him for Bournemouth in 2019, so he knows he will get what he wants out of him in terms of the commitment to training and development.

Kelly is comfortable at centre-back and left-back which is a position Newcastle have struggled with this season with the disappearance of Matt Targett and the questionable form of Dan Burn in that position. Not to mention Howe's reluctance to play Lewis Hall.

Hall has come through at the end of the season and proved that he has what it takes to make that position his own, which is fantastic, but now it looks like we will have cover for him with Kelly and Burn.