England defender Kieran Trippier is standing at a crossroads in his career after losing the captaincy of Newcastle United, according to a new report from the Daily Mail. He has expressed his desire to leave Newcastle and take on a new challenge, but at the same time, manager Eddie Howe strongly wants him to stay on and contribute to the team.
Trippier was told by Eddie Howe last week that he would not start the Premier League opener against Southampton and that the captain's armband would be handed to Brazilian midfielder Guimarães. The change will undoubtedly come as a blow to Trippier, especially given that he had previously managed to captain the side in the absence of Lascelles and had excelled in that role. He is frustrated at the loss of the captaincy and also finds himself challenged for a competitive position at right-back, with Livramento's rise to the top of the table making him feel the pressure.
Trippier currently has just 12 months left on his contract with Newcastle, making him more attractive in the transfer market. He is reportedly willing to leave Newcastle before the end of the transfer window next week if the right opportunity arises to pursue new opportunities. Clubs such as Everton, Atalanta and Galatasaray have all shown keen interest in bringing in the experienced defender. However, while West Ham United have also shown their admiration for him, the Trippier native does not seem to be willing to move to the London side.
Faced with such a situation, Trippier needs to make a difficult decision. He can either choose to stay at Newcastle and work with Eddie Howe and the team to rebuild and strive for better results in the new season, or he can choose to leave to take on a new challenge and explore his possibilities with other teams. Whichever choice he makes, it will have a profound impact on his future career.
