TOSIN ADARABIOYO is set to join Chelsea, with Newcastle United having opted against joining in a bidding war for the centre-half.

After a series of detailed discussions in the last month or so, Newcastle thought they had a deal wrapped up for Adarabioyo, who is leaving Fulham as a free agent this summer after turning down the offer of a new deal at Craven Cottage.

The 26-year-old and his representatives had indicated a strong desire to move to St James’ Park despite competing interest from Manchester United, and the Magpies hierarchy had been confident of concluding a deal well ahead of the official reopening of the transfer window later this month.

However, the situation changed last week when Chelsea approached Adarabioyo with an offer of their own.

As well as being able to offer European football next season after qualifying for the UEFA Conference League, Chelsea are also understood to have offered a significantly higher weekly wage than Newcastle.

The Blues have already lost Thiago Silva since the end of last season, and are also set to offload Trevoh Chalobah this summer, with Manchester United and Bayern Munich both reported to be interested in the youngster.

Adarabioyo held talks with senior officials at Stamford Bridge, and towards the end of last week, Newcastle became aware that they were in danger of missing out on the former Manchester City trainee.

The Magpies had the opportunity to make an improved counter-offer of their own, but opted against improving the package that was already on the table.

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While the opportunity to sign Adarabioyo as a free agent was always regarded as an attractive one, the need to remain within the constraints of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability regulations meant Newcastle’s recruitment team were reluctant to commit too much money to the capture of the defender as it would almost certainly mean having to reduce their intended investment in other areas.

Newcastle regarded their initial financial offer to Adarabioyo as an attractive one, and did not want to become embroiled in a potential bidding war for a player who they felt had had his head turned.

As a result, Adarabioyo is expected to have a medical at Chelsea this week, with Newcastle’s recruitment operation set to turn elsewhere as they continue their attempts to strengthen the squad.

The Magpies remain confident they will sign Lloyd Kelly as a free agent later this month, with the 25-year-old having provided firm assurances of his intention to join once his release from Bournemouth is officially confirmed.

Kelly turned down repeated offers of a new deal at the Vitality Stadium, and is set to be reunited with Eddie Howe, who was the manager who signed him for Bournemouth from Bristol City.

Newcastle identified Kelly as a key summer target long before the end of last season, with the defender set to bolster a defensive unit that will be lacking both Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles in the early weeks of next season, with the duo recovering from cruciate-ligament injuries.

Meanwhile, Paul Dummett has issued an emotional response to his release from Newcastle at the end of last week.

Dummett was one of five players announced to be leaving the Magpies along with Matt Ritchie, Loris Karius, Jeff Hendrick and Kell Watts. The boyhood Newcastle fan joined the club’s youth set-up at the age of nine, and made his first-team debut in January 2013.

“The time has come for me to say goodbye to the club,” wrote Dummett on social media. “I write this message with a heavy heart, having been proud to have represented the first team for 12 years, something I never in a million years thought I’d ever achieve.

“(I am) overwhelmed by the volume of incredible comments and messages I have received. I can’t reply to them all, but I have ready every one of them. Thank you.”