Newcastle star reveals he was in touching distance of Liverpool move before £12.5m flop stole his place
Newcastle United star Kieran Trippier has detailed how he almost joined Liverpool in a previous transfer window, only for the move to fall through late on.
Trippier has had a great career, representing big clubs such as Tottenham, Atletico Madrid and now Newcastle. The right-back helped Spurs to finish second in the Premier League in 2016-17, when they lost out on the title to Chelsea. He also made eight Champions League appearances as Spurs reached the final of the competition in 2018/19, where they lost to Liverpool.
Trippier left England that summer to join Atletico Madrid. And he had a successful spell at the Wanda Metropolitano, with Atleti lifting the Spanish league crown in 2021.
The England international is now back in the Prem after signing for Newcastle in January. He has had a huge impact for the Magpies. He always captains them when Jamaal Lascelles is out of the starting eleven.
Trippier has been so good this season that Jamie Carragher thinks he is Gareth Southgate’s best option at right-back for the World Cup in Qatar.
However, things could have been far different for the Bury-born ace. During an appearance on the Under the Cosh podcast, Trippier has revealed how he almost signed for Liverpool.
The 32-year-old said (via HITC): “I think it was the season after we [Burnley] got promoted – there were a few clubs interested. Tottenham obviously, Everton and Liverpool before they got Nathaniel Clyne as well. It was either me or him who was going to go to Liverpool.
“I only had a year left on my contract and [Sean] Dyche wanted me to sign a new deal with a release clause and I thought it made sense to play 38 games in the Premier League before getting that move.”
Liverpool move for Kieran Trippier an intriguing concept
Trippier played in all 38 of Burnley’s league games in the 2014/15 campaign. However, they were relegated on 33 points and this saw Trippier leave Turf Moor.
Spurs took him to north London in July 2015 by matching his Burnley release clause. It stood at £3.5m, according to The Guardian.
As Trippier states, Liverpool signed Clyne from Southampton that summer for £12.5m.
He was Liverpool’s first-choice right-back from 2015 to 2017, after which he was ruled out for a long period with a back injury. Clyne was never the same again and Liverpool let him go out on loan to Bournemouth in 2019. He joined Crystal Palace on a free transfer the following year.
Liverpool fans will be disappointed to hear how they could have had Trippier, rather than Clyne. Trippier was cheaper than his defensive counterpart and proved to be a step above in terms of quality.
Having said that, Trippier playing at Anfield could have restricted Trent Alexander-Arnold’s development. He began to get opportunities during Clyne’s injury, before cementing himself as their main right-back in 2018-19.
Meanwhile, Tuesday’s Transfer Gossip claims Liverpool are among the clubs hoping to sign a Red Bull Salzburg forward.
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