Only one major Newcastle United sale makes sense amid Trippier, Guimaraes & Wilson interest

Becoming the ‘richest club in the world’ hasn’t exactly played out the way many Newcastle United supporters may have thought.

Yes, there has been significant investment at all levels at St. James' Park since the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund led a consortium that brought an end to the austerity and lack of ambition former owner Mike Ashley imposed for the large part of his 14-year ownership on Tyneside. For all of the ridiculous external talk of moves for Neymar, Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo, the Magpies owners have, more often than not, invested in players that can grow with the club in the manner of Bruno Guimarães, Sven Botman, Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon.

Yet that has come with an internal acceptance and admission that, at some point, uncomfortable and perhaps unpopular player trading may be required to fund further rebuilding and ensure Newcastle do not fall foul of the Financial Fair Play regulations or the sanctions that come with it. That means speculation over the futures of the likes of Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson and the aforementioned Guimaraes are not without foundation as we enter the final throes of the January transfer window.

The reports linking Trippier - the man whose signature kicked off a new era at St. James' Park - with a move to Bayern Munich should not be a surprise given the Bundesliga champions ongoing search for a new right-back - nor should the England defender’s openness to joining former Spurs team-mates Harry Kane and Eric Dier at one of European football’s elite clubs.

Newcastle remain insistent they will not authorise the loan or permanent departure of Trippier before the end of the month - yet you suspect their resistance to the sale of the former Atletico Madrid star may well be tested once again by Bayern and other interested parties during the summer transfer window when he will enter the final 12 months of his current deal.

Talk of Guimaraes attracting interest from potential suitors within the Premier League and around Europe is nothing new for Newcastle supporters. Talk of a move elsewhere started from the moment the Brazil star made a surprise £40m switch to Tyneside just over two years ago after reportedly snubbing offers from other interested parties.

The former Lyon midfielder is a firm favourite with the St. James' Park faithful and the adoration he receives from Magpies supporters seems to be reciprocated. Recent reports in Brazil have suggested Guimaraes is happy to remain at Newcastle, despite interest from the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain - but as long as the reported £100m release clause remains in his new deal, talk of a departure will continue, despite United’s resistance.

For all of his fitness problems, striker Wilson, when fit, has been a regular source of goals for Newcastle after finding the net eight times in 20 appearances in all competitions this season. Despite falling behind Alexander Isak in the pecking order, the England international remains the only other natural striker in Eddie Howe’s squad and, as such, a January sale would be a questionable decision, unless a replacement is lined up.

Interest from Serie A giants AC Milan and La Liga club Atletico Madrid, who reportedly had a loan offer for Wilson rejected last week, may well have came out of the blue - but it does show the former Bournemouth striker had admirers in high places as he prepares to return to fitness over the coming weeks.

With the final week of the January transfer window now approaching, authorising the departure of Trippier, Wilson or Guimaraes would make very little sense for the Magpies, given the lack of time they would have to replace on three key players. Looking forwards, it would be foolish and naive to suggest the sale of any of the trio would be off the agenda during the summer transfer window, when replacements would be more attainable and time would be on the Magpies side.

Yet the January sale of one player within Howe’s squad could prove beneficial as the Magpies look to ease their struggles with Financial Fair Play regulations and add news faces to their ranks in a bid to push for a European place for the second successive season.

An initial report from CBS Sports’ Ben Jacobs on Monday morning suggested the Magpies had reached a ‘provisional agreement’ over the sale of winger Miguel Almiron to Saudi Pro League club Al-Shabab. However, a number of North East-based journalists moved to suggest that nothing was happening over a possible deal ‘as it stands’.

Yet the a move to sell the Paraguay international would make sense for Newcastle and would be more palatable than the loss of Trippier, Wilson or Guimaraes for supporters. The hardworking winger was an integral part of the side that secured a spot in this season’s Champions League after scoring 11 goals and providing two assists in 34 league appearances.

However, that remarkable return was somewhat out of sync with Almiron’s productivity during the rest of his career on Tyneside. His goal contributions during last season averaged at around one goal or assist in every 2.73 games, compared to one in every 5.92 games across his other 154 appearances for the Magpies. At the age of 29, it seems almost impossible to suggest Almiron will be handed an extension the three-and-a-half year contract extension he agreed just over 12 months ago and is unlikely to increase in value before that deal expires in the summer of 2026.

With Newcastle’s seemingly endless injury list finally showing some signs of receding over the coming month with wingers Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy and Elliot Anderson all expected to return, Almiron could find his place in Howe’s side under serious threat after a period of being the last-man standing for a spot on the right-hand side.

Given Newcastle’s Saudi-led ownership group, there would, of course, be criticism if Almiron was allowed to depart to a club in the Gulf State, despite Al-Shabab falling outside of the four clubs owned by the PIF. But the sale of the Paraguayan, given his age and the return from injury of several players, means allowing Almiron to leave would be one move the Magpies could make to boost their squad and aid their battle with Financial Fair Play regulations.