Leeds United and Ipswich Town were both linked with Newcastle United’s key defenders and as per reporter Joel Bland, he will leave the Magpies this summer.
Leeds United and Ipswich Town were both in the market for new additions in the latter stages of the transfer window and one player linked with both Championship clubs was Newcastle United defender Dummett.
The Tractor Boys made tentative enquiries while considering their defensive options but ultimately decided against a late move. Dummett’s situation at St. James’ Park was also claimed to have piqued the Whites’ interest, but nothing came of that either.
Now, with the Welshman down the pecking order under Eddie Howe and out of contract this summer, it seems an exit awaits.
Writing on X, reporter Joel Bland states Dummett will not be given a contract extension at Newcastle United after taking a pay cut to stay last year. He’s been with the Magpies his entire career, barring loan stints with Gateshead and St. Mirren.
Revived summer interest?
Time will tell if either Leeds United or Ipswich Town look to revive their previous Dummett interest in the summer. However, as an experienced and versatile defender potentially available on a free, there are far worse options than the Newcastle United man to consider.
It also remains to be seen what divisions the two Championship promotion hopefuls are in next season. Nonetheless, the 32-year-old could be a player of value to both if they are keen to bolster their options at the back when the 2024/25 campaign comes around.
Dummett has found Premier League game time hard to come by in recent seasons, so a drop to the second-tier could give him a shot at more regular action. He mainly operates as a centre-back but spent much of his earlier career playing as a left-back on Tyneside.
The Championship is often lauded as the best league in the world. The division is fiercely competitive from top to bottom and the constant drama and storylines unfolding make it a truly enjoyable league to watch.
And, it seems Klopp is one of the many big admirers of Championship football.
Speaking to the media (as relayed by reporter Lewis Steele) ahead of Liverpool’s tie with Southampton, the German boss lauded a number of second-tier clubs. Leeds United, Leicester City, Ipswich Town and West Brom all earned mentions from Klopp, who said:
The likes of Leicester City and Leeds United have played a standard of football many would believe is top-flight worthy this season. With Ipswich Town running them close and Southampton having embarked on a record-breaking unbeaten run, it’s far from just the top two who have caught the eye too.
The Saints will be hoping to put in an impressive performance in a tough game against Liverpool. They’ve lost three of their last four to drop to 4th in the Championship table.
However, despite this dip in form, Klopp’s clear admiration for the standard of Championship football suggests he won’t be going easy on Russell Martin’s side as he looks to add more silverware to his cabinet in the final season of his Liverpool tenure.
