An update has emerged regarding interest from Newcastle United in Atletico Madrid defender Kieran Trippier.

What's the talk?

According to Spanish journalist Guillem Balague, the Magpies have 'started negotiations' over a deal for the England international. He did not specify whether or not a deal is viable, but they are in talks to make it happen.

He told Radio 5Live, via Daily Express: “I hear from Atletico Madrid that Newcastle are really interested in getting Trippier and they have started negotiations with his people. I am not sure if they will get him or not.”

Fans will be delighted

Newcastle fans will surely be left delighted by this major transfer update from Balague. PIF are looking to make moves in the transfer market in the January window and supporters must be buzzing to read that they are already hard at work in discussions with agents.

They will be happy that talks are already underway, instead of waiting until January to make last-minute moves for random players with no clear plan. The owners are laying the groundwork for deals in the next transfer window and that could help them land their key targets, with Trippier seemingly one of them.

Fans could also be delighted to see the club going after a player like the England right-back. He is an experienced, proven player at the top level who could slot straight into the team and provide an upgrade in his position.

The 31-year-old has shown his quality for his country, as well as Tottenham and Atletico Madrid, over the years. England manager Gareth Southgate sang his praises earlier this year, hailing him as an underrated member of the squad.

He said: “He (Trippier) is a very underrated player. People are still looking at the player from a few years ago and not at the one who is at Atletico Madrid and playing like a warrior in the last few seasons. He is a big part of what we’ve done over the last few years and he gave a really good performance."

Last season, Trippier averaged a superb WhoScored rating of 7.20 as he started 28 games on Atletico's way to the La Liga title. In his last campaign for Tottenham in the Premier League, he averaged a score of 7.10 across 27 games, whilst he has an average career rating of 7.13. Newcastle's first-choice right-back Javier Manquillo has a career average rating of 6.72 and has recorded scores of 6.59 or lower in each of his four full top-flight campaigns for the club so far. This suggests that Trippier would be a significant upgrade on the former Liverpool defender, as he has already proven himself to be a top-quality performer in England for Tottenham, whilst also excelling in Spain, which is why Magpies fans must be buzzing with this news from Balague.

AND in other news, Howe could seal instant Newcastle masterclass by signing "perfect" £141k-p/w titan...