On Monday afternoon, The Telegraph revealed that Newcastle United are discussing a double swoop for soon-to-be free agents Tosin Adarabioyo and Lloyd Kelly.
They aren’t big names and are moves that may leave some fans feeling slightly underwhelmed, but I feel these are two players and two deals that could make so much sense this summer.
Starting with Tosin, the 6ft 5′ centre-back is comfortable on the ball and very athletic. He can be an ideal Jamaal Lascelles replacement following his ACL injury and a placeholder in that position before we sign a young ball-playing right-sided centre-back to eventually replace Fabian Schar.
Then to Kelly, a versatile defender, a leader and a player Eddie Howe knows very well after bringing him to Bournemouth. He can fill in for Sven Botman (ACL) as a left-sided centre-back and compete with Dan Burn at left-back when Howe opts not to play Lewis Hall.
The pair have Premier League experience, aid out fight with FFP as free transfers, would add pace to our back line and help us strengthen a defence rocked by two long-term knee injuries.
Not only that, the money we’d save by signing both on the cheap helps free up funds to spend elsewhere, with a big chunk of our budget then able to go on a top right winger, a holding midfielder and another striker; likely to be needed should Callum Wilson leave this summer.
With FFP/PSR an ongoing obstacle heading into a huge summer for the club, signing both could make so much sense.
If Howe is looking to keep the back 3 be ideal signings for the right and left side of the 3 with there pace allowing Schar and Botman when fit to be the middleman something Schar seemed to excel in against Spurs
Darren Bebb(Quote)