The Hard Tackle lists three right-backs Newcastle United should pursue after the confirmation of Kieran Trippier’s impending summer exit.
Kieran Trippier is on his way out of Newcastle United. The Magpies have confirmed with an official statement that the veteran right-back will part ways after the 2025/26 season wraps up, ending a chapter filled with big moments at St. James’ Park.
Kieran Trippier’s big arrival
Back in January 2022, Kieran Trippier swapped Atletico Madrid for Newcastle United in a deal worth £12 million when the team was staring at relegation. He jumped right in, bringing his bags full of experience from winning La Liga and reaching a UEFA Champions League final.
The Englishman’s crosses started lighting up the pitch almost immediately. Fans still talk about those early days when his deliveries created chances out of nothing, helping the side climb away from the drop zone.
Over four-and-a-half years, he has racked up more than 150 appearances, chipping in with four goals and 29 asisits along the way. That leadership showed up everywhere, from captaining the side to lifting the EFL Cup in 2025 after beating Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley to guiding youngsters to become world-class players.
The Kieran Trippier Effect: Turning Newcastle United around
Newcastle United went from scrapping at the bottom to knocking on Europe’s door twice in three years, thanks in big part to Kieran Trippier. His steady hand guided the team through tough spots, pushing standards higher every season.
Stats back it up. The former English international has been a tackling machine and a crossing wizard. In the current campaign alone, he is averaging 1.3 tackles, 0.6 interceptions, and 1.7 accurate crosses per game, keeping defenses on their toes.
Eddie Howe called him magnificent, praising how his technical skills built partnerships and created goals. That drive to win rubbed off on everyone, turning a mid-table outfit into real contenders.
Grooming the next generation
Kieran Trippier did not just play; he mentored Valentino Livramento into a top Premier League right-back. The veteran full-back’s experience smoothed his compatriot’s path, sharing tips on positioning and staying cool under pressure.
Livramento has grown into the first-choice spot, but depth matters in a long season. Trippier’s guidance made sure the transition felt natural, blending old-school smarts with young energy. Now at 35, time has caught up. The end has loomed for a while, but he is leaving on a high after that trophy win.
Whispers link Trippier to AS Monaco, who see him as a smart addition for experience and those pinpoint passes. It could be a nice final chapter abroad, competing with their current guy Vanderson. Newcastle United can now hunt replacements without looking back. With Livramento solid but needing backup, the summer transfer window is prime time to build for UEFA Champions League pushes ahead.
The Magpies need a right-back who defends tough, attacks smartly, and fits Eddie Howe’s high-pressing game. Here are three candidates who could slot right in and keep the momentum rolling long after Kieran Trippier has last stepped on the St. James’ Park turf.
Michael Kayode: The Italian powerhouse
Michael Kayode, 21, has been shining at Brentford, and he brings that Premier League know-how Newcastle crave as they attempt a summer rebuild. The youngster has already clocked over 2,000 minutes this season, earning rave reviews for his no-nonsense defending.
What stands out is Kayode’s duel-winning grit, as he strong in the air and on the ground, shutting down wingers before they blink. The Italian prospect punches above his weight, recovering balls like a vacuum. He has got flair too, touching the ball loads and creating chances (73rd percentile for full-backs).
Here is the bonus: those unmistakable long throws are weapons. Like Rory Delap back in the day, Kayode launches them deep into the box, turning dead balls into chaos for opposition backlines. Newcastle United love set-pieces under Eddie Howe, and this adds a new twist. Picture opponents panicking as 40-yard rockets sail over, leading to tap-ins or corners.
The 21-year-old has acclimatised to the Premier League already, and there will be no culture shock, as he is ready to compete with Valentino Livramento and push standards higher. However, Newcastle won’t have it easy chasing Kayode.
Arsenal see him as a Ben White heir, ready to splash cash amid their own backline tweaks. Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United are sniffing around too, drawn to his Premier League experience and upside. The Magpies must move quick with smart money to beat the big wallets.
Ivan Fresneda: Spanish speed demon
Ivan Fresneda, 21 at Sporting CP, is the exciting unknown with massive hype. The Spaniard is one of Europe’s top young right-backs, bagging a goal and three assists in 37 games this term. Defensively sharp, he reads plays early, nipping attacks in the bud. His right foot is electric for overlaps, whipping in crosses that beg for headers, making him ideal for Newcastle United’s tall strikers.
Fresneda’s potential screams long-term gem. From Real Valladolid stardom at 18, he has rebuilt in Portugal, showing composure beyond his years. Additionally, while the raw numbers are not promising, the youngster is a creator in waiting, as he often completes precise passes and makes forward surges, which fit Howe’s system like a glove. He could unlock the right flank, feeding Anthony Gordon or taking the load off Livramento.
While Fresneda has no Premier League miles yet, his technical acumen will translate anywhere. Newcastle United’s coaching staff could polish him into a star, blending defensive solidity with Spanish flair. At his age, he is mouldable, hungry to prove doubters wrong after early hurdles. The Magpies’ project would excite him, building on Kieran Trippier’s legacy.
However, big guns lurk. Arsenal lead the pack, while Manchester City want his versatility and Real Madrid seek his homegrown talent. So, Newcastle United face a battle, as his form has suitors lining up. They will need to sell the vision and top Europe’s elite to land him.
Ben White: Proven Premier League rock
Ben White, 28 at Arsenal, is the ready-made option with bags of top-flight experience, making him perhaps the most ideal candidate to fill Kieran Trippier’s void at St. James’ Park. The English international is reliability personified, despite his dip in stature at the Emirates.
Defensively, he is a wall, as White reads danger early, starting counters from deep. His passing range bosses games, with the Englishman capable of spraying balls wide or long. At Newcastle United, he would steady the ship instantly, requiring no bedding-in time to replace Trippier.
White thrives in possession systems, winning duels and progressing play. The 28-year-old is even versatile, as he can tuck into midfield and the central defensive berths if needed. Additionally, like Michael Kayode, the Arsenal defender is Premier League acclimatised. Pair him with Livramento for efficient rotation in the right-back berth to see out long and arduous campaigns, chasing those UEFA Champions League spots with aplomb.
Much like Trippier, White is calm in chaos. A move north could reignite his career if Arsenal cash in on him this summer, as expected. However, rivals circle White, and Newcastle United’s dream may hits snags. Chelsea covet his English grit, Liverpool his versatility, Manchester United his reliability. Arsenal might sell, but only to the right bid.
With suitors growing in volume, the Magpies must dangle trophy hopes and big wages to pry him from Emirates comfort. But whoever replaces Kieran Trippier, his exit opens the door, and Newcastle’s summer hunt promises fireworks. Landing any of these three players keeps the right flank humming, fuelling dreams of silverware and Europe. With Howe’s magic, the future looks bright on Tyneside.