NEWCASTLE hope to seal a deal for Kieran Trippier in the coming days after Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone confirmed he wants to leave.
The England full-back was the last player off the pitch as he appeared to say farewell to the Atletico fans after their 2-0 win against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
Trippier started the clash at the Wanda Metropolitano as Simeone’s side ended a run of four LaLiga defeats thanks to Angel Correa’s double.
But it could be the former Tottenham defender’s last outing for the Spanish giants after he applauded the Atletico faithful on his own following the full-time whistle.
Toon submitted a bid for a permanent move within hours of the transfer window opening on New Year’s Day.
And while a fee is not yet thought to be agreed, Newcastle are confident of having Trippier in before their next league match against Watford on January 15.
After Atletico’s game, Simeone said: “We want him to stay – he’s a very important player.
“But nowadays, when a player wants to leave, you can’t force them to stay.”
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He also remarked: “We have always had to live with these situations – important and very good players within the team who have possibilities of leaving.
“Then it will depend on what the footballer himself wants.
“Consequently, we will try to follow what is happening and look for solutions.
“He is an important player for our team and we coaches can’t do too much in terms of players’ decisions, we can only tell Trippier how important he is for the team.”
Trippier, who joined Atletico from Spurs in 2019, helped the club win the LaLiga title last season when he featured in 28 top-flight matches.
Chelsea and Manchester United have also been linked with a move for the defender, but it is the Magpies that look poised to secure his services.
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