Simon Jordan is baffled by reports claiming that Atletico Madrid defender Kieran Trippier is on his way back to the Premier League with Newcastle United, speaking to talkSPORT (15 December, 11:50am).
We can only assume that the England international has a lot of belief in the Eddie Howe project.
Because why else would he swap the La Liga winners – an Atletico side who will be fighting Manchester United for a place in the Champions League quarter-finals next year – for a Newcastle side level on points with Norwich City at the bottom of England’s top flight?
The presence of Howe in the St James’ dugout will certainly be a factor. Trippier, after all, worked with Howe at Burnley and is understood to have an excellent relationship with Steve Bruce’s successor.
According to the Northern Echo, the £20 million-rated Trippier will also earn £150,000-a-week at Newcastle. Such a fee will make him the best-paid player in the club’s history.
Is Kieran Trippier making the right call joining Newcastle United?
“The bottom line is, Trippier is a good player. I’m surprised to see him leaving Spain to go to Newcastle because there’s a distinct possibility, whichever way you cut it, that they’re going to get relegated,” says Jordan, the former Crystal Palace owner.
“There’s a World Cup coming up (in 12 months’ time).
“So it’s an incredible decision on his part because he’s risking the position of playing for his country in a World Cup by taking the decision to go to Newcastle.
“I would think the economics of it are very appealing. There’s no football decision here. This is his last contract.
“(Trippier could) stay in La Liga with an elite club where you’re guaranteed to be achieving things.”
Interestingly, the Echo suggest that Trippier, who is linked with Everton, could have a clause in his contract allowing him to leave Newcastle if they do suffer their third relegation since 2009.
Bringing in one of Europe’s finest full-backs, however, will give the Magpies’ survival prospects a major boost. Particularly when you consider that right-back is arguably the weakest area of Howe’s squad.
“Great signing. A fantastic player,” says former West Ham and Man City winger Trevor Sinclair.
“His delivery is unbelievable so for set-pieces, which we know a lot of goals come from, he’ll be on them. That will just give them more threat going forward.
“They’ve got a defender in – which everyone knows Newcastle needed – but also someone who can deliver (the ball) on a sixpence.”
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