Almiron, Trippier, Wilson - Who will leave Newcastle United?

Both Darren Eales and Eddie Howe have admitted the Magpies might need to sell a senior player to enable them to make signings of their own in the future because of the restrictions imposed by the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules.

Who is the subject of interest this month? And what is the likelihood of them leaving Newcastle before the window closes on February 1?

KIERAN TRIPPIER

Kieran Trippier (Image: PA)

Bayern Munich’s initial bid for Kieran Trippier was rejected on Saturday, but the German club are understood to be preparing a second approach they hope will enable them to land the England international.

Bayern’s initial offer of a loan deal was rejected out of hand, and after a series of internal discussions over the weekend, the line coming out of St James’ Park is that the Newcastle hierarchy do not want to lose Trippier this month.

That could change if Bayern table a significant offer for a permanent deal though, with Trippier reportedly open to the idea of a switch to the Bundesliga and a reunion with his former Tottenham team-mates Harry Kane and Eric Dier.

Trippier has been a talismanic leader since joining Newcastle in a £12m move from Atletico Madrid, and Howe will be extremely reluctant to move on a player who has become emblematic of the club’s progress under their Saudi Arabia-backed ownership group.

Having turned 33 in September, though, and with just 18 months left on his current deal, this could be Newcastle’s best opportunity to cash in, with Tino Livramento a ready-made replacement at right-back.

CALLUM WILSON

Callum Wilson (Image: PA)

Like Trippier, Callum Wilson was also the subject of a formal approach from overseas at the weekend, with Atletico Madrid having tabled a loan offer for the striker. Like Trippier, Newcastle swiftly rejected the bid.

The key difference in the two transfer sagas is that while Bayern Munich are willing to consider a permanent offer for Trippier, Atletico Madrid are not believed to be in a position where they can put money on the table to sign Wilson on a permanent basis. As a result, Wilson currently looks much likelier to remain on Tyneside this month than Trippier.

Atletico do not want a permanent deal for a player who will turn 32 next month, and are wrestling with the same FFP dilemmas that are affecting Newcastle. Hence their attempts to secure a loan deal.

If Newcastle were to lose Wilson this month, their lack of attacking alternatives means they would have to sign a replacement. To do that, they would have to receive a hefty fee for their current number nine.

MIGUEL ALMIRON

Miguel Almiron (Image: PA)

Miguel Almiron’s future had not really been in doubt prior to the last 24 hours or so, but stories have emerged linking the Paraguayan with a possible move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Shabab.

There is understood to be substance to the reports, which initially broke in the Middle East, although at this stage, there is no formal agreement in place for the sale of the attacking-midfielder.

Almiron is contracted to St James’ Park until the summer of 2026, so there is no urgent need to sell a player who has been pretty much ever-present this season. The South American turns 30 in February, though, so the Newcastle hierarchy might decide that his value is currently at its peak so this might be the right time to move him on.

Selling another player to a Saudi Arabian club would be controversial given Newcastle’s much-publicised FFP issues – Allan Saint-Maximin’s summer move to Al-Ahli was heavily criticised – although it is worth pointing out that Al-Shabab is not one of the four Saudi Pro League clubs majority owned by PIF.

BRUNO GUIMARAES

Bruno Guimaraes (Image: PA)

Bruno Guimaraes has been the subject of speculation for most of this month, with Paris St Germain known to have a long-standing interest in the midfielder. Guimaraes’ recent family trip to Paris set tongues wagging, but he did not meet with PSG officials during his time in France.

There is also talk of a domestic move, with Liverpool and Chelsea both having been linked with the 26-year-old in recent days, and Eales’ admission that Newcastle ‘might have to sell a star player’ was widely interpreted as an acknowledgment that Guimaraes’ position at the club was potentially vulnerable.

Things haven’t reached that stage yet, and if Guimaraes was to leave this year, it is much more likely that his exit would take place in the summer. Nevertheless, a late departure in this month’s window cannot be completely ruled out.

JAMAAL LASCELLES

Jamaal Lascelles (Image: Steven Paston)

Turkish side Besiktas are interested in signing Jamaal Lascelles, who is due to become a free agent when his current contract expires in the summer.

Reports in the Turkish press suggest Besiktas officials have floated the possibility of a loan deal, which could then lead to a permanent transfer at the end of the season. That is unlikely to make much appeal to Newcastle though, with Lascelles currently the preferred back-up option to the first-choice centre-half pairing of Sven Botman and Fabian Schar.

Howe rates Lascelles’ leadership highly, hence his refusal to take the armband away from the 30-year-old despite his limited game time in the last couple of seasons. If there was money to be made from selling Lascelles, that might be a different situation, but Besiktas are unlikely to be able to pull off a loan deal this month.