Blues could demand £15m if Toon want loan star beyond summer

NEWCASTLE United will need to pay up to £15m if they want to sign Kenedy permanently, according to reports.

The 22-year-old (pictured) scored a brace during the Magpies’ crucial 3-0 win over Southampton on Saturday and has made a huge impression in less than two months on Tyneside.

Those two goals were Kenedy’s first for Newcastle since he joined from Chelsea on loan in January, a deal which does not contain an option to buy.

Rafa Benitez and United had asked for such an option to be included – just like in the deals for Martin Dubravka and Mikel Merino – but Chelsea refused.

Dubravka has a clause which Newcastle can trigger to sign the Slovakia goalkeeper for £4m this summer, while Mikel Merino’s initial loan move from Borussia Dortmund has already been made permanent. Newcastle are considering making an offer to the Blues to sign Kenedy permanently this summer but they will only make a firm decision on whether to pursue a long-term deal for the winger once their top-flight future is secure. The Mirror reports that Chelsea will demand “up to £15m” for Kenedy, who can play anywhere down the left flank or as a right-winger, given that he will still have two years left to run on his contract at Stamford Bridge. Benitez has been impressed by the leftwinger’s impact during his first six weeks as a Magpies player, but is unsure whether Chelsea will allow the Brazilian to move to St James’ Park permanently.