Emil Krafth could be set to stay at Newcastle after they appeared to change their stance over sanctioning a move for the right-back.
According to the print edition of the Daily Mail [via Shields Gazette], the ex-Amiens defender was all but set to depart Tyneside, having only arrived in 2019.
Turkish outfit Istanbul Basaksehir were reportedly a major suitor, but Steve Bruce’s side could be set to reject that interest in favour of retaining Krafth’s services, with the 26-year-old also seemingly content to stay put now.
The £5m signing has found himself well down the pecking order under Bruce’s plans, with the likes of DeAndre Yedlin, Javier Manquillo and even winger Jacob Murphy being picked ahead of Krafth in starting line-ups – but the recent defeat to Arsenal has suddenly changed things.
The Swede featured for the full 90 minutes against the Gunners in a 3-0 thumping and appeared to hold down the trust of Bruce during the game.
He has only featured in five games this season and was ordinarily a more peripheral defensive option under Bruce’s plans.
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It is hard to see Krafth truly impressing and forcing Bruce’s hand, given his otherwise mediocre lack of minutes this season.
His inclusion against Arsenal felt more like a roll of the dice as opposed to a tactical move as Bruce seeks to find his best starting line-up. Indeed, he failed to impress many Geordies with his display at the Emirates Stadium.
If Newcastle hope to recruit in this window, Bruce will need to dispense with some existing options from his 25-man squad. With Krafth having a possible suitor ready-made, he could have been in an ideal position to be offloaded, whereas now it looks others may be sacrificed.
