Newcastle: Eddie Howe hoping Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson, Miguel Almiron stay at club

Kieran Trippier, Miguel Almiron and Callum Wilson have all been linked with January exits from Newcastle; «We want to keep the squad intact and keep our best players,» says Toon boss Eddie Howe; Howe also reveals the club had to step away from Kalvin Phillips deal for «financial reasons»

Digital football journalist @DanLong__

Friday 26 January 2024 12:28, UK

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Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has provided an update on the futures of Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron after the trio were recently linked with moves away from St James' Park.

The 48-year-old was grilled for more than half an hour during his press conference on Friday morning — ahead of the Magpies' FA Cup fourth-round trip to Fulham on Saturday — with talk of business in the final few days of the January transfer window high on the agenda.

«It's been a difficult window so far for us because it's been the first time since I've been manager of the club that we've been linked with players leaving and that creates an unsettling dynamic,» he said.

«A lot of those rumours are just rumours. Not all of it, but I'm trying to prepare for our next game and we want to keep the squad intact and we want to keep our best players.»

Speaking after Bayern Munich ended their pursuit of Trippier earlier this week, he said: «There are a few things to say on Kieran's situation.

»We obviously hope he'll stay — I'm very confident he will — and be part of our long-term future, but I have to make it clear that he's never asked to leave or even questioned his future here.

«He's always been fully committed and we've had a lot of conversations in the last week, which have been about Newcastle. I think it's very