Newcastle ‘line up surprise replacement’ for Kieran Trippier if star joins Bayern Munich | Football | Sport
Newcastle might be on the verge of losing one of their key players in Kieran Trippier and his possible replacement could come in the surprising form of USA international Joe Scally, according to reports. Trippier is said to be open to a move to Bayern to reunite with ex-Tottenham team-mates Harry Kane and Eric Dier.
The move is more likely to be a permanent one, as opposed to a loan deal, with Newcastle wary of breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules. With Trippier now 33 years old, it could be their last chance to cash in on the veteran right-back after he cost £12.8million to bring in from Atletico Madrid.
However, he would be a huge loss and would be dearly missed by supporters on Tyneside. He made up the bulk of the team’s Champions League experience this campaign and kept Kylian Mbappe quiet in Newcastle’s iconic 4-1 win over Paris-Saint-Germain at St James’ Park.
No other defender across Europe’s top five leagues has more assists than Trippier, who provides excellent delivery from both open-play and dead-ball situations. Regardless, the Saudi-backed club would have no choice but to find a replacement if Trippier is eager for the move to the Bundesliga champions despite having Tino Livramento as one option to fill his shoes.
One possible option is Scally, who would be making the reverse move from the Bundesliga to the Premier League as he plays his football for Borussia Monchengladbach. The Daily Mirror say Scally is one of the main options to replace Trippier.
The American has played in every Bundesliga game for his club so far this season, with one goal and an assist, and has registered 75 appearances in Germany’s top-flight overall at just 21 years of age. Scally has been described as an excellent hybrid full-back, with a strong build yet agile, with a willingness to get forward.
For mid-table Monchengladbach, Scally ranks fourth for both pass success rate (83.2 per cent) and tackle success rate (56.25 per cent). Internationally, Scally has earned eight caps for the USA although faces stiff competition in the right-back slot in one of USA’s most talented positions where Sergino Dest and DeAndre Yedlin are vying for starts.
Newcastle won’t want to lose Trippier and much also depends on Bayern Munich’s pursuit of Nordi Mukiele. The versatile PSG defender, who can play both right-back and centre-back, is also on Thomas Tuchel’s radar.
French international Mukiele has previous Bundesliga experience having made 100 appearances for RB Leipzig, before making a move to PSG worth £10m, and is seven years younger than Trippier. But depending on how the dominos fall, it could be Trippier out and Scally in for the Toon.
