Newcastle waiting on Antonio Conte approval to close Kenedy loan deal — report

A few days before the transfer window opened, rumours of Kenedy heading out on loan for the second-half of the season started materializing. Initial reports had the young Brazilian moving to Bournemouth, but those winds quickly shifted towards north towards Newcastle, where former a former Chelsea manager was supposedly eager to add the 21-year-old to his squad.

That sort of talk had gone a bit quiet since, but according to the Newcastle Chronicle’s Chief Sports Writer, Lee Ryder, that’s simply because Kenedy’s move has yet to be approved by Chelsea manager Antonio Conte.

The reason behind Conte’s own delay is clear and sound: he does not want to lose a player at the thinnest position in an already thin squad. Kenedy may not be great, but he is the only actual backup to Marcos Alonso, unless we consider makeshift options like Davide Zappacosta, Victor Moses, Cesar Azpilicueta, or Pedro.

The “player in” would obviously have to be a left back, ideally Alex Sandro or Alex Telles or at least somebody decent. But given the lack of movement on this front as we approach the middle of the month, Kenedy just might have to stay put — not the greatest solution for the team nor the best outcome for his own development.