Paddy Kenny has given his reaction to some transfer news involving Newcastle United and Kieran Trippier.
The Lowdown: Trippier targeted
As per AS, the Atletico Madrid right-back is now a transfer target for the St James' Park club following the completed takeover by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium.
Journalist and La Liga expert Guillem Balague revealed earlier this month that the Tyneside club have already 'started negotiations' with Tripper's representatives over a potential move, as they are 'really interested' in signing him.
It is unclear whether the new owners will target the 31-year-old in the January transfer window or whether they will wait until the end of the season, depending on what their fate is in terms of potential relegation from the Premier League.
The Latest: Kenny reacts
Speaking to Football Insider, former Premier League goalkeeper Kenny has since given his reaction to the transfer news, claiming that it would be 'big' for Newcastle if they were to sign Trippier. The 43-year-old said:
“This is big for Newcastle if they can get away with it.
“He has been linked with a move back to England a couple of times now. He’s been away for a couple of seasons and he’s done really well in Spain.
“Obviously, he won the title and he seems to have impressed a lot of the fans over there. It’s no surprise really because he’s a top talent.
“I really like him, always have. His crossing is top-drawer, and his free kicks are amazing too. He’s a proper specialist when it comes to those two.”
The Verdict: No-brainer
There is little doubt that Trippier would elevate the quality of the squad that Eddie Howe currently has at his disposal at St James' Park, given that he helped win the La Liga title with Atletico Madrid ahead of the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona last season.
As Kenny mentions, the defender also offers a threat from crosses and free kicks, which would be a very handy weapon to have in Howe's armoury.
The Newcastle boss is fond of the England international from his time managing him at Burnley and claimed that the 31-year-old is ‘one of the best crossers of the ball’ that he has ever worked with (The Bournemouth Echo).
Trippier had a great relationship with Howe back then too, expressing his admiration for his former boss by claiming that he is a ‘great manager’ who helped him personally (The Burnley Express).
This relationship could work wonders on the pitch if the Magpies bring him in, so it seems a bit of a no-brainer to get a deal done.
In other news, NUFC are 'keeping a close eye' on this Champions League gem ahead of a potential transfer