Mercato: Newcastle takes out the barbed wire for its captains

When the hunter finds himself hunted. Last season, Newcastle amazed everyone by finishing the 2022-2023 edition in fourth place in the Premier League standings, synonymous with qualification for the next Champions League. To properly celebrate its return to the most prestigious of European competitions, the club based in Tyne and Wear has used great means to equip itself with a quality squad with a view to performing well at all levels. But a few months later, the Magpies do not seem to have confirmed the expectations placed on them across the Channel. In addition to an early elimination from the group stage in C1, the Toons are losing momentum in the championship.

In tough sporting terms despite a slight improvement in the FA Cup, Newcastle once again showed its limits against a big fish by biting the dust against Manchester City in front of its home crowd (2-3). With this new setback, the fourth in a row in the Premier League, the English club is further behind the top 4 than ever, falling 14 points behind Aston Villa. The opposite of the objectives set at the start of the season, the team from the north of England is simultaneously trembling at the idea of ​​losing players. If we mentioned in recent days an interest from Paris Saint-Germain for Bruno Guimaraes, it is now Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson to find themselves in the sights of big cars from the Old Continent.

Newcastle are not giving up on Trippier and Wilson but…

In search of a right back for the second half of the season, Bayern Munich took precautions. Keeping Nordi Mukiele as a preferred target in the back of his mind, the Rekordmeister decided to secure the services of Kieran Trippier as an alternative. Having the favor of the Munich coach who particularly appreciates his profile due to his experience, his ability to project himself forward and his leadership on and off the field, the English international is up for it and has given his agreement to the reigning German champion to make the trip across the Rhine before February 1. However, Newcastle does not see it that way. Lacking depth in this position and determined to keep one of its key players, the English club was quick to express its refusal to its German counterpart despite a loan offer with option to purchase transmitted by the latter , according to the words of Telegraph. The English club does not want to sell its captain but a sum of 13 to 14 million euros could change things depending on Sky Sports.

In addition to managing the thorny Trippier case, the Premier League resident must negotiate in parallel with Atlético de Madrid. According to the indiscretions of Daily Mail, the tormentor of Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey would be interested in the services of Callum Wilson. To put all the chances on its side, the Iberian team immediately approached the 31-year-old striker’s entourage and would also have made a loan offer. If this proposal was dismissed out of hand by the management of the Toons, they are not completely closed to the idea of ​​parting ways with the ex-Bournemouth striker. Although the latter, under contract until 2025 and author of 8 goals including 1 assist in 20 appearances in all competitions (including 10 starts), remains popular in the eyes of the St James’ Park public, Newcastle risks having to sacrifice reluctantly the Englishman if he wishes to comply with the Premier League’s rules of profitability and sustainability. To be continued…