Atletico Madrid full-back Kieran Trippier is expected to become the first signing of Newcastle United’s new ownership. The Magpies will reportedly turn their attention towards Lucas Digne after bringing the England international on board.
Newcastle United are set to sign the 31-year-old for a reported fee of 12 million pounds, as per The Athletic and several other reports. Trippier will become the first big signing under the Magpies’ new regime, which took over the club from incumbent owner Mike Ashley last year.
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone stated earlier this week that while he would be reluctant to let Trippier leave, he also wouldn’t stand in his way should the player himself agree to a move. That is thought to be what has happened, with the former Tottenham and Burnley player keen to return to England to be closer to his family.
Trippier will now undergo a medical at the Tyneside club before completing the move formally. He returns to England two-and-a-half years after leaving Spurs for Atletico, for whom he made 83 appearances during the same time. He was a crucial member of the Atleti squad that ended Real Madrid and Barcelona’s hegemony over the Spanish title last season.
Newcastle are expected to remain active in the winter window, with a new left-back also high on their agenda. To that end, the Magpies are targeting Everton’s Lucas Digne, who, after falling out with manager Rafael Benitez, has reportedly been made available for transfer.
Sky reports that Newcastle are, however, facing a battle to sign the Frenchman. The Premier League strugglers are up against Chelsea and West Ham United for the 28-year-old’s signature, with the two sides currently short of options on the left side of defence due to injuries to key personnel.
The Frenchman signed for Everton from Barcelona in 2018 and has since made 125 appearances for the Toffees.
Meanwhile, Everton have already signed Vitaliy Mykolenko, a 22-year-old Ukraine international left-back from Dynamo Kyiv, who is expected to fill in that position moving forward.
