CHELSEA have agreed to loan Kenedy to Newcastle United next month, although the move is dependent on the Stamford Bridge club being able to secure a left-sided signing of their own.

Rafael Benitez has held a number of discussions with the Chelsea hierarchy about potential loan signings for the second half of the season, with Kenedy and David Luiz both featuring on his wanted list.

Benitez tried to sign Kenedy on a number of occasions in the summer, only for Chelsea to hold on to the Brazilian when their own transfer dealings failed to come to fruition.

The 21-year-old has barely featured in the first half of the season though, with this week’s outing against Bournemouth in the EFL Cup representing just his third senior appearance of the campaign.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte accepts Kenedy would benefit from some regular first-team football in the next five months, and has given the green light for a potential move to Newcastle.

However, the switch will only take place if Chelsea are able to sign some left-sided competition for first-choice wing-back Marcos Alonso.

The reigning Premier League champions are keen to land Juventus’ Alex Sandro, but face competition from Manchester United and Paris St Germain. They have also expressed an interest in Thomas Lemar, although Monaco are extremely reluctant to sell the midfielder, who can also play as a full-back.

As a result, Kenedy’s move to the North-East will remain on hold until Chelsea’s January transfer options become clearer.

Benitez remains a big fan of the youngster, even though he has spent most of his time on the sidelines since joining Chelsea in a £6.3m move from Brazilian side Fluminense in 2015.

Kenedy has made just 11 senior starts in the last two-and-a-half years, with a loan spell at Watford having proved a major disappointment.

He hit the headlines for the wrong reasons in the summer when he was sent home from Chelsea’s tour of the Far East after making disparaging remarks about China on social media, although Conte was keen to stress earlier this week that the incident is no longer being held against him.

Nevertheless, he is clearly a fringe player at best at Stamford Bridge, whereas he would have a chance of being a first-team regular if he was to move to St James’ Park.

Newcastle have lacked a natural left-back all season, and while Paul Dummett is close to completing his return to full fitness, Benitez remains desperate to add reinforcements in the position. Kenedy can also play as a left midfielder, and neither Christian Atsu nor Jacob Murphy have made that role their own this term.

Benitez is also keen to sign a centre-forward and goalkeeper next month, with Rob Elliot and Karl Darlow both having failed to sparkle between the sticks.

Elliot returned to the starting line-up after a four-game absence as Newcastle lost at Arsenal last weekend, and is expected to retain his place in the starting line-up for tomorrow’s game at West Ham. However, Benitez admits he has not settled on a long-term answer to his side’s goalkeeping issues.

“The goalkeeper situation is the same as with any other,” he said. “Every player in this team, or indeed any team if they are professionals, they have to compete and be ready.

“We can talk about whether they (Darlow and Elliot) have confidence or not, but it doesn’t matter, they have to be ready. Rob knew that he would be playing at Arsenal, and he did well. Karl knows that the way to regain his position is to keep working hard.

“That is what both of them have to do. I expect a good reaction from both of them, and that is what I have been getting. We have a good team spirit, and they are both working really hard.”