Newcastle: £12m star PIF's 'best piece of business' at St James' Park

Newcastle‘s best piece of business under the new owners remains Kieran Trippier, according to Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie.

The takeover from PIF has allowed the Toon Army to spend around £200m in the last two transfer windows, but Downie reckons that Trippier’s arrival is still their standout capture.

The right-back became the first signing of the new era when he made the £12m move from Atletico Madrid just seven days into the January transfer window.

Despite winning La Liga eight months earlier, Trippier turned down the chance to continue playing in the Champions League to return to the Premier League.

And Trippier’s impact on the pitch has been massive, with the Magpies losing just once in the 14 top-flight games he’s started.

His arrival helped Newcastle climb away from the relegation zone last season, while his form this term has seen them emerge as challengers for Europe.

Therefore, despite some more high profile signings since, Downie reckons the 30-year-old remains PIF’s standout incoming.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “I still think with all the business they’ve done, that’s probably the best piece of business for them, bringing him in for £12m.

“To be the first one as well and bringing him in allowed them to bring in the likes of Bruno [Guimaraes] and [Alexander] Isak when they saw them bringing in an England international. “

According to WhoScored, Trippier has been one of Newcastle’s top players, with only Guimaraes and Allan Saint-Maximin able to top his 7.39 rating.

Not only that, his rating is also the second-best in terms of defenders in the Premier League behind only Joao Cancelo.

Trippier is in the top five players at the club for most interceptions, clearances, and blocks per 90 minutes, while he’s also