Newcastle United to hand contract extension to right-back after recent reports he would be sold

Newcastle United could be about to hand a one-year extension to right-back Emil Krafth according to reports coming from Sweden.

The Swedish international hasn't featured much for the Magpies in the last couple of years after he suffered a ruptured ACL in the Carabao Cup tie with Tranmere Rovers in August 2022.

That injury kept Krafth out of action for over a year with the 29-year-old returning to the pitch in November 2023 getting a one-minute cameo in the shocking 2-0 defeat against Bournemouth.

The Swede was quality as cover for Kieran Trippier when he fractured his metatarsal

Despite the fact that in the season prior to his injury, Krafth had deputised for Kieran Trippier who had a spell on the sidelines after picking up a foot injury, and was so good in the role that he earned himself the nickname Krafu, he was thought to be surplus to requirements at Newcastle and was tipped to leave in January.

Ironically, it turned out to be Kieran Trippier who was closer to the exit door and now it looks like Krafth might be offered a new deal by the club, if Fotbol Direkt are to be believed.

Are to two things related? Probably not. Kieran Trippier has come out and put any talk of him leaving well and truly to bed, so it's not like the club are panicking and trying to cling on to Krafth because they fear Trippier is on the way out.

Emil Krafth has earned a new contract at Newcastle

It's likely more to do with the fact that the £5million signing from Amiens has grafted his proverbials off to get back to fitness after his awful injury and when called upon this season, has looked like he's never missed a game.

There's clearly going to be some eye-rolling if this turns out to be true with a pocket of fans using it as a tool to question the new owners' commitment and ambition, but there's nothing to say that just because we're keeping hold of Krafth for another year, we're settling with the right-backs we have - although, I'd argue that between Krafth, Trippier and Tino Livramento we're doing alright in that position.

Krafth is a strong squad player, he's reliable and genuinely a lot better than a lot of people give him credit for, and for me, he's earned a contract extension,