Emil Krafth missed out on Newcastle United's game at The City Ground on Sunday after picking up an injury in training. He was subsequently removed from the Sweden squad as we awaited news on why.
A rumour online suggesting that Krafth had broken his collar bone were confirmed on Monday and now it is believed the right-back may be out for around three months, leaving Newcastle short on bodies at the back until February.
That of course means the club's plans for the January transfer window may have changed, especially in terms of possible exits.
Kieran Trippier could be the one most affected by this news with the former England international heavily linked with a move away.
Last January Trippier was linked with a move to Bayern Munich then in the summer, rumours persisted that the 34-year-old wanted a move away from Newcastle after troubles in his personal life.
Trippier and Eddie Howe have both downplayed talk of him wanting to leave, but nobody is buying it and indeed, journalist Graeme Bailey has told Geordie Boot Boys that Trippier will now be anxious after the news around Emil Krafth.
“Krafth obviously offers value at full-back, so he’s just a very good squad player. Could that impact Newcastle letting Trippier out?
“I would think Trippier might be worried by that injury if anything.
“Obviously, he’s desperate to get out. I think he’d even like to get out on a free, but we’ll see what comes of that because he’s still got 18 months left.”
If Newcastle keep hold of Trippier again this winter, you'd imagine that he will be sold, or released in the summer.
The £12 million signing from Atletico Madrid has been one of, if not the most important signing of the Eddie Howe era, but his advanced age, injury troubles and the fact that his head has not been in the game for months makes him more of a liability than an asset these days. On the pitch at least, he still offers a lot in a leadership capacity behind the scenes.
It does look unlikely now that the club would sanction a move in January given the lack of cover, but we'll have to see how it goes.
PL | GD | PTS | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Liverpool
|
12 | 16 | 31 |
2 |
Manchester City
|
12 | 5 | 23 |
3 |
Chelsea
|
12 | 9 | 22 |
4 |
Arsenal
|
12 | 9 | 22 |
5 |
Brighton
|
12 | 5 | 22 |
6 |
Tottenham Hotspur
|
12 | 14 | 19 |
7 |
Nottingham Forest
|
12 | 2 | 19 |
8 |
Aston Villa
|
12 | 0 | 19 |
9 |
Fulham
|
12 | 0 | 18 |
10 |
Newcastle United
|
12 | 0 | 18 |
11 |
Brentford
|
12 | 0 | 17 |
12 |
Manchester United
|
12 | 0 | 16 |
13 |
Bournemouth
|
12 | -1 | 15 |
14 |
West Ham United
|
12 | -4 | 15 |
15 |
Everton
|
12 | -7 | 11 |
16 |
Leicester
|
12 | -8 | 10 |
17 |
Wolves
|
12 | -8 | 9 |
18 |
Ipswich
|
12 | -10 | 9 |
19 |
Crystal Palace
|
12 | -7 | 8 |
20 |
Southampton
|
12 | -15 | 4 |