Newcastle United currently have numerous players in their senior ranks over the age of 30, giving them the joint-fourth-oldest squad in the Premier League.
One of those players, and a vital figure for Eddie Howe this season has been Kieran Trippier, who at the age of 32, is Newcastle’s second-oldest outfield player.
Despite being older than the majority of his teammates, the £100k-per-week Englishman has shown on the pitch just how important he is for the Toon and how capable he is of playing at a high level.
For example, with more league minutes to his name than any other Newcastle player, the right-back has scored one goal and delivered four assists across his 23 appearances.
In addition to that, Trippier currently tops the list at Newcastle for the number of passes (62) and crosses (20) into the penalty area as well as for the number of shot-creating actions he’s made (116).
Should Newcastle and PIF look to the next summer transfer window to strengthen their squad, one figure they’ve been linked with in the past week who we feel could do that and act as a suitable long-term backup and eventual heir for Trippier is Jeremie Frimpong.
After working his way through the youth ranks at Manchester City, where Trippier also spent some time in the early stages of his youth career, the right-back went on to make 51 appearances for Celtic before joining his current club, Bayer Leverkusen, in January 2021.
Is Kieran Trippier Newcastle's best defender?
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Since then, the 22-year-old has scored seven goals and delivered 16 assists in 76 appearances for the German club across all competitions.
In terms of being a suitable long-term heir for Trippier, as well as his age, Frimpong’s efforts in the Bundesliga this season have shown why that could be the case for Newcastle.
With the second-highest total of passes (20) and crosses (7) into the penalty area at Leverkusen, the right-back also comes second for the number of shot-creating actions (63) but first for the number of progressive carries (107).
Described as a “special” player by manager Xabi Alonso, the former Celtic defender has shown just how much of a capable attacking full-back he is, just like Trippier.
With all of that in mind, should Newcastle aim to make some long-term transfer investments this summer, securing a deal for Frimpong would be a good way for them to do that.