Rafa Benitez has refused to close the door on the possibility of signing Kenedy this summer - but accepts that his £30million price tag would prove to be a major stumbling block for a permanent transfer to Newcastle United.
The Brazilian struggled to get into the starting line-up in the second half of the campaign and has now returned to Chelsea.
However, Benitez is realistic when it comes to revisiting a deal to sign Kenedy for a third time this summer.
The United manager told the Chronicle: "I think it's because he did so well in his first season, we were expecting, and myself, that he'd play at the same level.
"For different reasons he did not play at the same level. He knows that.
"We had a lot of conversations about that. It is a pity because he has all the potential to be a very good player.
"Now he will go back to Chelsea and we will see what is going on with him. But it'll be very difficult to talk about him.
"They want £30million for him so it makes no sense to have a debate. He'll go back and we'll see what happens."
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