Kieran Trippier has asked to leave Newcastle and, although Eddie Howe wants the England right-back to stay at St James’ Park, there is a sense that the 33-year-old will depart, quite possibly on loan, this month.
After joining Newcastle for £12m from Atlético Madrid in January 2022, Trippier has been a cornerstone of Howe’s squad, on and off the pitch. Everton have been mentioned as a possible destination.
As Newcastle qualified for last season’s Champions League, Trippier not only stabilised Howe’s rearguard but frequently proved its most potent creative attacking outlet, with dead balls a particular speciality.
This summer, though, a player who turns 34 next month has not only lost the team captaincy to Bruno Guimaraes (the injured Jamaal Lascelles remains Newcastle’s club captain) but has given up the St James’ Park box from which family and friends routinely watched him play.
As Newcastle beat Southampton 1-0 at home last Saturday, Trippier, now officially vice-captain, was an unused substitute, with Tino Livramento occupying his preferred right-back role. Livramento is believed to be regarded as Howe’s first choice in that position, while the manager is now well covered at left-back.
Given Trippier has put his house up for sale and came very close to joining Bayern Munich in January, news of his unrest comes as no surprise. It would seem a natural fit were he to be reunited with Dyche who, like Howe, previously managed him at Burnley, but there is also interest from Atalanta and Galatasaray. Indeed a fresh challenge in Italy or Turkey may appeal to a player tempted by that potential Bundesliga switch.
Should Trippier get his wish Howe will not be happy unless his squad is strengthened with quality cover for Livramento. He will also miss the England defender’s often invaluable stewardship of the dressing room and key role in the squad’s leadership group.
