A remarkable four years at Newcastle United could come to an end for Kieran Trippier in January, and it might be for the best.
For so long, the idea that Newcastle United could sell Trippier has seemed unwise.
The England international is a dressing room leader and can still offer so much on the pitch when called upon.
Hot take: I’m starting to think Newcastle United should sell Kieran Trippier in January – prove me wrong
Would be painful but need to cash in while we can! 👀
Newcastle aren’t exactly blessed with options at full-back right now, either, amid injuries to Trippier, Tino Livramento, Emil Krafth and Dan Burn.
However, Trippier is out of contract at the end of the season and is said to be attracting transfer interest.
With that in mind, the club’s current stance on the veteran England defender makes a lot of sense.
Kieran Trippier could leave Newcastle United in January
According to The Chronicle, there is currently no contract extension on the table for Trippier, nor is there a clause in his current deal that can be triggered.
As such, an exit in the January transfer window – four years after he joined the club from Atletico Madrid – cannot be ignored.
Trippier has been linked with a transfer to Saudi Arabia, while the report also mentions Monaco as a potential landing spot.
Who is the one player you were FURIOUS with Newcastle United for selling? Go back as far as you want!
Lewis Miley has replaced Kieran Trippier at Newcastle United
Eddie Howe wants to keep Trippier at Newcastle, and that’s certainly logical. He has been a transformative signing for the club and can still offer something on the pitch.
However, the situation has changed somewhat now, with Lewis Miley shining at right-back.
Miley looks like a fine replacement as a back-up to Livramento.
Though selling players halfway through a season is never ideal, the club need to get better at trading.
The only players Newcastle have sold for significant sums are the ones they never wanted to leave in the form of Elliot Anderson, Alexander Isak and Yankuba Minteh.
It’s hard to imagine Trippier commanding the kind of money that they did but the whole point is that by selling players at the right time on a consistent basis, perhaps Newcastle can avoid being forced into major sales against their wishes in the future.
In an ideal world, Trippier would stay. However, Newcastle don’t have much time to get any money for him and if he’s set to leave this summer anyway, why not cash in now?
It would be a shame to see him go but, frankly, Newcastle have to start getting ruthless.
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