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 feeling the 33-year-old will leave, possibly on loan, before the end of the month.
Having joined Newcastle for £12m from Atletico Madrid in January 2022, Trippier has been a cornerstone of Howe's side both on and off the pitch. Everton It has been mentioned as a possible destination.
As Newcastle qualified for last season's Champions League, Trippier not only stabilised Howe's defence but frequently proved his most potent creative attacking outlet, with set pieces his speciality.
This summer, however, 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 box at St James' Park from which his family and friends regularly watched him play.
Last Saturday, Newcastle beat Southampton 1-0 at home and Trippier, now officially vice-captain, was an unplayed substitute, while Tino Livramento took up his preferred right-back position. Livramento is believed to be considered Howe's first choice for that position, while the manager is now well covered at left-back.
Given that Trippier has put his house up for sale and came very close to joining Bayern Munich last January, the news of his unrest is hardly surprising. It would seem a natural signing if he were to reunite with Dyche, who, like Howe, previously coached him at Burnley, but there is also interest from Atalanta and Galatasaray. Indeed, a new challenge in Italy or Turkey may prove attractive for a player tempted by that potential move to the Bundesliga.
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If Trippier gets his wish, Howe will not be happy unless his side are strengthened with a quality addition for Livramento. He will also miss the England defender's invaluable dressing room management and his key role in the team's leadership group.
