England defender Kieran Trippier will undergo a medical at Newcastle United on Wednesday as the Saudi Arabia-backed Premier League club prepare to launch their January rescue mission.
Trippier will travel to Tyneside after it was reported in Spain that the full-back did not train with his teammates on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old played in Atletico’s 2-0 La Liga victory over Rayo Vallecano on Sunday and at the end of the game applauded fans who watched him help the club claim their first league title in seven years last season.
He joined the Madrid club from Tottenham for £20 million ($27m) in July 2019 and has made 83 appearances since, but Newcastle are hoping to persuade him to swap Champions League football for a new challenge in England.
If the deal goes through, it would be the second time Eddie Howe has signed Trippier, having also taken him to Burnley in 2011.
Newcastle's last game: 1-1 against Manchester United
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NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka - 6: Had home hearts in mouths when charging out of area to sweep up attack just before half hour. Palmed dipping Rashford shot over bar at start of second half. Dropped cross and sliced clearance in injury time to send jitters around St James’ Park. Reuters -
Emil Krafth - 7: Swedish right-back put perfect ball into middle for Saint-Maximin just after break that Frenchman should have scored from. Booked for pulling shirt of Rashford. AFP -
Fabian Schar - 7: A few all or nothing challenges that, happily for the Swiss, came off in first half. Played well at back in spirited Newcastle defensive display. Reuters -
Jamaal Lascelles - 7: Captain been part of a – rightly – much maligned Newcastle defence this season but looked solid at St James’ Park right up until Cavani bundled home 71st minute leveller. Cleared another off line after indecision with Dubravka almost gifted second to Cavani. AFP -
Javier Manquillo - 7: Spaniard did superbly to help keep likes of Greenwood and Rashford relatively quiet, so much so former was hooked at break. Dalot did find space down his wing to provide Cavani equaliser. Getty -
Ryan Fraser - 8: Heavy first touch meant Scot failed to take advantage of early Maguire error down right. Some crunching tackles that delighted home fans. Forced decent save from De Gea just after hour. Ran himself into ground in probably his best game for club. Reuters -
Jonjo Shelvey - 7: Almost caught in possession a couple of times in opening quarter of an hour but then stung hands of De Gea with rasping strike after surging run. Still piling forward looking for winner until very end. PA -
Sean Longstaff - 7: Pinched ball off Varane and provided ball to Saint-Maximin for early opener. Impressive game in centre of park for Magpies, excellent pressing and some fine long passes. AP -
Joelinton - 9: Curled shot wide of target from edge of box 12 minutes in. Relentless workrate from Brazilian who has found his niche with deeper role under Eddie Howe. Booked for dissent. Outstanding with and without the ball. Reuters -
Allan Saint-Maximin - 8: Brilliant right-footed finish on the stretch to put side ahead after seven minutes. Missed sitter just after half-time after fine Krafth run and cross, then forced good save from De Gea from low strike. Limped off injured in last 10 minutes. Reuters -
Callum Wilson - 7: Had ball in net after 39 minutes following Saint-Maxmin run and pass but striker was caught offside. Went down in a lot of pain at end of first half after falling awkwardly, tried to carry on but forced off minutes later with what looked like calf problem. EPA -
SUBS: Jacob Murphy – (On for Wilson 45’ +6’) 8: On before half-time due to Wilson’s injury. Pace and pressing vital to Newcastle’s second-half performance. Cross-come-shot almost found way into bottom corner. Very unlucky to see late strike hit post. Getty -
Migel Almiron – (On for Fraser 75’) 7: Fine shot soon after Murphy hit post was heading for top corner only for De Gea to pull off brilliant save. Reuters -
Dwight Gayle – (On for Saint-Maximin 84’) N/A. Striker might have part to play in next few games if Wilson and Saint-Maximin injuries are bad. Getty -
MANCHESTER UNITED: David De Gea - 9: Record of clean sheets under new boss was quick to go – not that the Spaniard could do much as he watched the ball fly in. Saved a strong 23rd minute Shelvey shot and made a vital save from Saint Maximin on 46 – and again on 62 from Fraser. And again and again and again – the best from Almiron - which wasn’t easy on a slippy surface. EPA -
Diogo Dalot - 5: Early cross into six-yard box was too close to goalkeeper. Found it tough when up against Saint-Maximin, but set up Cavani for United’s equaliser. EPA -
Harry Maguire - 5: Shaky against Wilson and he twice mis-controlled the ball against a side with one win in 19 league matches. Got in front of Almiron to stop a 90th minute attack. Reuters -
Raphael Varane - 5: Back after missing eight games with a thigh injury and his pondering led to Newcastle’s opening goal. Gave ball away on 34 to set up another home attack. EPA -
Alex Telles - 6: A regular under his new boss. Not easy playing alongside two haphazard central defenders. Swung a ball towards Cavani as his side pushed for a winner. EPA -
Fred - 5: Busy as ever in front of the sell out 52,178 crowd, but Newcastle kept winning the ball in midfield – the area he was supposed to stop that happening. Good form until recently. Off at half time as United changed formation. EPA -
Scott McTominay - 5: Another who suffered in the first half as Newcastle passed around United’s press. Neat one-two with Fred in an otherwise highly unconvincing first half from his side which lacked aggression. Limped off after 78. PA -
Bruno Fernandes - 5: Failed to exploit the huge gaps in Newcastle’s defence. Outraged that he’d been pushed on 43, but the flag had gone up for offside. Cut a frustrated figure and was booked – he’ll miss Thursday’s game v Burnley. Tried the difficult passes and Involved in the goal. AFP -
Mason Greenwood - 6: Positive early movement and smart cross-field pass towards Fernandes. Shot blocked by Lascelles on 30. Off at half time. Reuters -
Marcus Rashford - 5: Got a lot of space on the right, but wasteful in his crosses. Nutmegged just before the break by Saint-Maximin. Excellent dipping shot on 48. His shot 12 minutes later would never be described as such. EPA -
Cristiano Ronaldo - 5: Failed to meet a 16th minute cross on his right foot. Yellow card – and he was fortunate it was only yellow. Led the line which struggled to create chances against a side who’ve conceded so many league goals. Reuters -
SUBS: Jadon Sancho – (On for Fred 46’) 6: Controlled the ball beautifully after 53 before shooting over. Set up Cavani on 54. Poor pass towards Ronaldo could have set him free on 88. AFP -
Edinson Cavani – (On for Greenwood 46’) 7: Made a difference. Skewed a shot wide on 54, then had a shot blocked on 71, before scoring as the ball came back to him. Another effort cleared off the line on 75. Spun a shot across the goal on 80. PA -
Nemanja Matic – (On for McTominay 78’) 6: His side dominated possession in the Tyneside drizzle – yet didn’t have the best chances. Getty
Amanda Staveley’s Newcastle consortium, which includes Saudi's Public Investment Fund, has embarked upon a recruitment drive aimed both at preserving the club’s Premier League status and providing a foundation for future success.
However, while their newfound spending power has excited fans, luring the players they want to the north-east may prove to be a tough ask with relegation a real threat.
Howe’s side currently lie one place from the foot of the table having collected only 11 points from their first 19 games, with Norwich, Burnley and Watford also engaged in a survival battle.
The Magpies have drawn up an extensive list of January targets, also being linked with Burnley defender James Tarkowski, Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey and Zenit St Petersburg striker Sardar Azmoun.
