Juventus have successfully reached an agreement with Newcastle United to sign defender Lloyd Kelly on loan, with an obligation to buy for €18 million plus additional bonuses.

The centre-back had been a long-standing target during the January transfer window, though interest appeared to cool when alternative options such as Kevin Danso from RC Lens gained prominence.

One of the key hurdles in negotiations was Newcastle’s insistence on an obligatory purchase clause rather than a simple loan deal. Initially reluctant, Juventus ultimately decided to move forward with the deal as the transfer deadline approached.

Renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the agreement has been sealed for a fee of €18 million, with bonuses included and a sell-on percentage.

Kelly is expected to arrive in Turin over the weekend to undergo medical examinations before finalizing the move.

According to DAZN, the total cost of the deal could rise to around €20 million, structured as a loan with an option to buy, which converts into an obligation if specific conditions are met.

Sky Sport Italia provides further details, reporting that Juventus will initially pay €3 million for the five-month loan, followed by a mandatory purchase fee of €14 million, along with additional performance-based bonuses.

The 26-year-old, who developed through the Bristol City academy before moving to Bournemouth, joined Newcastle United on a free transfer in the summer of 2024.

This season, he has made 14 competitive appearances and registered one assist.

Manchester United are exploring the possibility of securing Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey as they seek reinforcements in attack before the January transfer window closes.

With Marcus Rashford on the verge of finalizing a loan switch to Aston Villa, United are actively searching for a replacement. The England international is set to join Villa on a temporary deal until the end of the season, with the Birmingham-based club agreeing to cover 70 percent of his £325,000-a-week wages.

Furthermore, Villa have negotiated an option to make Rashford’s move permanent in the summer, with a reported transfer fee of £40 million.

United have already expressed interest in Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel as a potential attacking addition, though the young forward recently declined an offer from Tottenham Hotspur. However, according to The Athletic, Bailey has emerged as another potential target for Erik ten Hag’s side, with a loan move being considered if Aston Villa are open to letting him leave.

The 27-year-old Jamaican international was one of Villa’s standout performers last season, registering 10 goals and nine assists in the Premier League. However, his form this term has been less prolific, contributing just one goal and two assists in league play so far.

Bailey joined Aston Villa from Bayer Leverkusen in 2021 for a fee of £25 million and has been an important part of Unai Emery’s squad.

Following Villa’s 2-0 defeat to Wolves on Saturday night, Emery acknowledged the club’s need to reinforce their squad before the transfer window shuts.

“We need to replace Diego Carlos, Emi Buendía, and Jhon Durán,” Emery stated. “It’s not easy because we don’t want just any replacements—we want players who can truly improve us. We are being selective and strategic.”

Villa have already taken steps to strengthen their squad, reaching an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain to sign Marco Asensio on loan for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, Rashford is scheduled to undergo his medical on Sunday as he prepares for his move to Villa Park.

Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel remains open to potential moves to Manchester United or Arsenal after turning down a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs had successfully negotiated a €60 million (£50.2m) agreement with Bayern, contingent on Tel’s approval. Club chairman Daniel Levy even traveled to Munich on Friday to present Tottenham’s proposal personally. However, the 19-year-old forward opted to decline the offer, informing Bayern that he preferred to stay unless another club stepped forward before Monday’s transfer deadline.

According to reports from RMC Sport, only Manchester United and Arsenal are still in contention for Tel’s signature, as both clubs have the potential to persuade him to leave Bayern before the window closes. Meanwhile, Chelsea and Aston Villa have reportedly withdrawn from the race.

Sky Germany has revealed that United have engaged in preliminary discussions with Bayern regarding Tel but have yet to submit a formal bid. Similarly, Arsenal has maintained interest in the French youngster since his €28.5 million (£24.4m) transfer from Rennes in July 2022 but has not taken any concrete steps to secure his services.

Chelsea previously expressed interest earlier this month, yet Tel is reportedly hesitant about joining due to the high level of competition within Enzo Maresca’s squad at Stamford Bridge.

The primary motivation behind Tel’s willingness to leave Bayern stems from limited playing opportunities, as he has started only three matches under Vincent Kompany this season.

Bayern Munich’s sporting director, Max Eberl, confirmed on Wednesday that Tel had initially decided to stay but has since reconsidered his stance.

“Mathys originally wanted to stay and prove himself,” Eberl explained. “Now, he has expressed that he is open to a move, and we have to assess our options. His playing time has been limited, which is understandable from his perspective. Given that we are at the end of January, this situation is more complex for everyone involved. We must determine the best course of action for Mathys and Bayern Munich.”