One priority position for Manchester United heading into the January transfer window was at right-back, with manager Erik ten Hag having been searching for a quality alternative to usual starter Diogo Dalot in that role.
While the subsequent resurgence of Aaron Wan-Bissaka – who has started the last seven league games – seemingly halted the need for a mid-season addition, the fact that the Englishman had only recently been tipped for an exit could well suggest that the full-back berth is still on the agenda heading into the summer window.
Amid that continued hunt for a suitable option on the right side of the defence, the Red Devils may well be regretting their failure to sign current Newcastle United skipper Kieran Trippier back in the summer of 2021, with the 32-year-old having been a “revelation” for the Magpies of late, as per talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan.
The Old Trafford outfit had seemingly been keen to prise the England international from Atletico Madrid 18 months ago, with reports at the time suggesting that the one-time Manchester City man had been hopeful that a deal could be agreed.
As it proved, the La Liga side’s reported valuation of around £34m seemingly proved something of a sticking point, with the Premier League giants reluctant to fork out such a hefty fee for a player who was entering the final year of his deal.
Despite Trippier himself revealing that a move had been close, the Bury-born defender ultimately stayed put in the Spanish capital that summer, before joining the Magpies for a knock-down fee of just £12m in January 2022.
Should Man United have signed Trippier?
Yes!
Not for me!
That move has swiftly come to look like something of a “bargain“, in the words of journalist Josh Bunting, with the one-time Tottenham Hotspur man having since been instrumental in keeping Eddie Howe’s side in the division last term, before playing a vital role in the club’s remarkable top four push this time around.
A “defensive animal” – according to Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate – the £100k-per-week ace has averaged 2.1 tackles and 1.5 games from his 21 league outings this term, having kept 12 clean sheets and conceded just 12 goals in that time.
It is the experienced asset’s quality going forward that has particularly caught the eye, however, as he has already created 17 big chances this season – the second most of any player in the division – while he has averaged 3.0 key passes per game, a record far higher than that of Dalot (1.5) and Wan-Bissaka (0.8).
To have such creative brilliance come from the flanks would no doubt have been a real lift for United had they snapped up Trippier at the time, with the 40-cap rock also offering the benefit of being a “leader” in the words of journalist Henry Winter.
Having been a “game-changer” for the northeast side, according to Alan Shearer, Trippier is now bidding to help the club end their lengthy trophy drought ahead of the upcoming Carabao Cup final, with Ten Hag’s side awaiting in the showpiece.
With it likely to already smart that the Red Devils didn’t snap up the defender when they had the chance, it could well hurt even more if he thwarts them at Wembley in just a few weeks’ time.
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