Newcastle United have had a relatively quiet transfer window but still look on course to get the players in many people felt they needed.
However, when it comes to outgoings, there are plenty of players we'd expected to see get moved on who are still firmly tethered to the club.
Jamal Lewis has featured heavily in pre-season and we were sure his Newcastle career was over. Ryan Fraser is still hanging around like a bad smell as Southampton have been unable to get their deal done for the winger. Miguel Almiron is seemingly flat-out refusing to leave and has cable-tied his neck to the Gallowgate End goal posts like a Just Stop Oil protestor.
Callum Wilson strategically injured himself so nobody would want him and Kieran Trippier looks to be set to receive a stay of execution.
There had been reports that free-spending West Ham were keen on Kieran Trippier this summer should their move for Arron Wan-Bissaka fail to materialise.
That deal now looks set to be completed today with Wan-Bisakka set for his medical in London today and if all goes well he will sign a five-year contract to play alongside Jean-Clair Todibo in the Hammers' new-look defence.
West Ham have done some fantastic business this summer and could genuinely be a surprise package in the Premier League if Julen Lopetegui can get the new players to gel.
The idea of losing Kieran Trippier this summer is an odd one for us. We absolutely adore the bloke and feel he was the single most important signing Eddie Howe has made. Trippier's arrival was the big statement that we weren't here to make up the numbers anymore. Without Trippier we probably wouldn't have Bruno Guimaraes or Alexander Isak at the club.
Trippier's leadership on and off the pitch is absolutely priceless and him leaving would leave such a big void.
However, he is now 33 and his body isn't up to the task as much as it once was. He's picking up injuries far too often, and his performances when he returns have often been lacking. This summer could have been our last chance to recoup some money for the England man.
All that being said, we expect Trippier to play a smaller role next season with Tino Livramento to be the first-choice right-back, and if that's the case, then we have no objection to the skipper sticking around.
PL | GD | PTS | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Liverpool
|
13 | 18 | 34 |
2 |
Arsenal
|
13 | 12 | 25 |
3 |
Chelsea
|
13 | 12 | 25 |
4 |
Brighton
|
13 | 5 | 23 |
5 |
Manchester City
|
13 | 3 | 23 |
6 |
Nottingham Forest
|
13 | 3 | 22 |
7 |
Tottenham Hotspur
|
13 | 14 | 20 |
8 |
Brentford
|
13 | 3 | 20 |
9 |
Manchester United
|
13 | 4 | 19 |
10 |
Fulham
|
13 | 0 | 19 |
11 |
Newcastle United
|
13 | 0 | 19 |
12 |
Aston Villa
|
13 | -3 | 19 |
13 |
Bournemouth
|
13 | 1 | 18 |
14 |
West Ham United
|
13 | -7 | 15 |
15 |
Everton
|
13 | -11 | 11 |
16 |
Leicester
|
13 | -11 | 10 |
17 |
Crystal Palace
|
13 | -7 | 9 |
18 |
Wolves
|
13 | -10 | 9 |
19 |
Ipswich
|
13 | -11 | 9 |
20 |
Southampton
|
13 | -15 | 5 |