The January transfer window is yet to spring into life for Newcastle United.
Working under FFP constraints, Newcastle are yet to make a signing.
Instead, much of the talk has been around big names potentially leaving the club. Indeed, Bruno Guimaraes is being tipped for an exit, along with Joelinton.
Off the field, the prospect of Dan Ashworth departing has also been raised.
Then there’s Kieran Trippier.
A lynchpin of this Newcastle team since joining in January 2022 as the first signing of the PIF era, the veteran has been linked with a shock move to Bayern Munich.
Eddie Howe, however, reportedly has other ideas.
Kieran Trippier to Bayern Munich: Eddie Howe latest
According to iNews, the Newcastle manager would petition to keep Trippier at St James’ Park.
He is believed to remain a huge fan of the defender, although that does not necessarily mean he’s guaranteed to stay.
They claim Trippier is one of the top earners at the club and that a big offer could tempt Newcastle into selling, which would then leave it up to the player to decide.
Kieran Trippier: Newcastle transfer latest
A month or so ago, it would have been a major shock to even consider selling Trippier.
Still, if Bayern come in with a bid for a player who wouldn’t otherwise have much in the way of sell-on value, there’s certainly an argument to sell.
The player himself has admitted he’s not been up to standard this season. In Tino Livramento, Newcastle have a ready-made replacement already proving a capable first-team player.
With FFP limiting what the club can do, hard decisions will have to be made.
Selling a 33-year-old player on high wages not exactly covering himself in glory right now does seem wise, as good as Trippier has been on the whole.
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