Kieran Trippier is keen to join Bayern Munich and, despite Newcastle turning down an initial bid from the Bundesliga club, there is a growing feeling that they may yet be persuaded to part company with their England right-back.
Although Eddie Howe is extremely reluctant to lose Trippier, the 33-year-old has been allowed to talk to Bayern and is understood to have agreed provisional personal terms.
Trippier had a transformational effect, on and off the pitch, after joining from Atlético Madrid two years ago but has latterly been out of sorts and unsettled. He has made it clear that a reunion with his former Tottenham teammates Harry Kane and Eric Dier in Bavaria appeals.
With Thomas Tuchel, Bayern’s manager, similarly making it plain that he wants Trippier and Newcastle’s room for transfer-market manoeuvre restricted by the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR), a deal appears within reach.
Given Trippier cost £12m two years ago and is among the highest earners, and the club possess a top-quality young right-back in Tino Livramento, selling him now could facilitate the signing of the new midfielder Howe desperately needs. Removing the England international’s £120,000 weekly wage from the payroll could help ease Newcastle’s recruitment of a new No 6 or No 8 while remaining within PSR regulations.
At present Sean Longstaff, Bruno Guimarães and the 17-year-old Lewis Miley pick themselves in a midfield missing the injured Joelinton – who will undergo groin surgery next week – Joe Willock and Elliot Anderson, as well as the long-term suspended Sandro Tonali.
Matters are further complicated by Joelinton’s reluctance to accept Newcastle’s current offer to extend a contract due to expire in 18 months. The Brazil midfielder is understood to want to almost double his £70,000-per-week wages.
Although Bayern would ideally like to sign Trippier on an initial loan deal with an agreement to buy in the summer, it is believed Newcastle would only agree to an outright sale this month and intend to drive a hard bargain for a defender who is capable of playing on both sides of defence and is contracted to them until the summer of 2025.
