'Very close': £12m Newcastle player says he nearly signed for Manchester United

06/15/2024 03:35 AM

Manchester United have had some transfer near misses in recent years.

The Red Devils haven't been able to capture all of their targets, and that has led to some very talented players slipping through their fingers.

Indeed the likes of Frenkie De Jong, Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland have all almost signed for United in recent years, and now, a current England star has noted that he almost joined the Red Devils a few years ago.

Speaking on The Overlap with Gary Neville, Kieran Trippier has claimed that a deal to join United in the summer of 2021 was very close, but a deal fell away at the last minute.

Kieran Trippier almost joined Manchester United

The £12m Newcastle man spoke about how he almost signed for United.

"I wanted to come back to England, my family were finding it very difficult. I could've stayed at Madrid, I could've signed a new three-year contract, but as a player you have to be realistic about where you can go. I couldn't go to City or Liverpool. I was restricted to certain clubs," Trippier said.

"Manchester United came in though didn't they?" Neville asked.

"Yeah, United came in straight after the Euros and that was very close, obviously growing up being a red as well with all my family, but it didn't happen."

"Everything happens for a reason, it just fell away really."

Trippier would've been brilliant for Manchester United

Kieran Trippier would've been a fantastic signing for Manchester United.

Not only is he one of the best right-backs in the country, he's also capable of playing at left-back, and that would've been very useful for United in recent years.

Indeed, with Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia struggling for fitness so much in recent times, United have struggled at left-back, but if they had Trippier in the squad, they'd be in a much stronger position in terms of quality and depth.