Newcastle have resisted a second approach from Bayern Munich for Kieran Trippier, rejecting a bid in the region of £12m-£13m on Tuesday afternoon.
Given that the England right-back cost £12m when he joined Eddie Howe’s side from Atlético Madrid two years ago and is now 33, that suggests Newcastle are now minded to keep a player who remains talismanic on and off the field and has 18 months remaining on his contract.
However Bayern may not give up easily, particularly as their manager, Thomas Tuchel, has placed Trippier high on his transfer list and is keen to reunite him with his former Tottenham teammates Harry Kane and Eric Dier in Bavaria.
It is understood Howe has pushed hard to persuade Newcastle’s board to resist the temptation of getting their money back on a player who often captains the team and who he is desperate to retain until at least the end of this season.
Whether or not Howe will continue to win the argument should Bayern return with a third bid remains to be seen. Tuchel also retains an interest in the Paris Saint-Germain right-back Nordi Mukiele.
Newcastle’s board know Howe is anxious to sign a midfielder this month but their need to stay within the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules dictates they need to sell before buying again. This month the Saudi Arabian-controlled club’s chief executive, Darren Eales, told journalists that “every player has his price”.
For his part Trippier, who has been close to Howe since playing for him at Burnley, will not agitate for a move to Bayern, despite a last hurrah in the Bundesliga holding a clear appeal for a defender who won La Liga with Atlético.
Newcastle could possibly sell Miguel Almirón to Al-Shabab after the six-time Saudi champions registered a definite interest in the winger, but Almiron is believed to be resistant relocating to the kingdom.
