West Ham United are seemingly targeting a shock swoop for Newcastle United full-back Kieran Trippier this summer.
The Hammers interest in the versatile 33-year-old defender emerged last night , much to the bemusement of fans of both clubs.
Kieran Trippier has been one of the best and most consistent right-backs in Europe over the past four or five years, so it’s no surprise that West Ham might want to sign him.
However, he has definitely shown signs of regression over the past six months or so.
Julen Lopetegui absolutely has to get the right-back signing 100% spot on this summer.
An upgrade on Vladimir Coufal is required urgently, and whilst Trippier is certainly a better right-back than the 31-year-old, I just feel like we could do so much better.
However, it seems like the Hammers are very much set on the Newcastle man as an option this summer…
Kieran Trippier to West Ham talk really heats up
The former Spurs man has been back in England for two-and-a-half years, but he could now be set to swap Tyneside for East London.After reports lifted the lid on Lopetegui’s apparent interest in signing the England international last night, many Hammers fans put the claims down to nothing more than mere speculation.However, the links may well be more concrete than we first imagined.
According to a report from The Chronicle, West Ham have now made an official enquiry for Trippier.
The information comes from Lee Ryder – the Chief Newcastle United Writer, so it must carry some weight.
And it is suggested that Lopetegui believes that the 33-year-old is a ‘good fit’ for the Hammers.
I have to say, I’d much prefer us to move for a younger full-back with big potential.
Our left and right-back options – Emerson Palmieri and Vladimir Coufal – are already on the wrong side of 30 as it is.
Don’t get me wrong, Trippier is proven at the very highest level. He’s won a La Liga title with Atletico Madrid and reached the Champions League final during his Tottenham days.
And it has to be said that the Newcastle man has been very good indeed since moving to St James’ Park from Atleti in January 2022.
He’ll be 34 in September though, and his decline will not be too far away, certainly from a physical perspective.
If West Ham really want a new right-back this summer, we should avoid a move for Kieran Trippier and sign Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
If we’re unable to get a deal for the Manchester United man over the line, then Southampton ace Kyle Walker-Peters should be brought into the London Stadium.
Trippier’s best days are well behind him, and Lopetegui really should be setting his sights elsewhere this summer as far as I’m concerned.
