Newcastle United defender Kieran Trippier has admitted that it was "flattering" to learn of interest from Bayern Munich during the January transfer window, but has refuted claims that Harry Kane tried to lure him away from St James' Park.
The 33-year-old was the subject of intense speculation during the second half of the winter transfer window, with the Magpies understood to have rejected two offers – including a €15m (£12.8m) bid – from Bundesliga giants Bayern.
Newcastle refused to part ways with an important first-team player midway through the season, and Bayern chief Christoph Freund eventually confirmed that their pursuit of Trippier "is over".
Eddie Howe later revealed that Trippier "never asked to leave or even questioned his future" at Newcastle and is pleased to have kept hold of the experienced right-back.
Bayern were hoping that Trippier would be attracted by the opportunity to play in a different country and reunite with former Tottenham Hotspur teammates Kane and Eric Dier, the latter moved to the Allianz Arena in January.
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However, England international Trippier felt that a transfer to Germany at this stage of his career "wasn't the right thing" for him.
Lifting the lid on the transfer saga during an interview with Chronicle Live, Trippier said: "It's actually crazy, to be honest, because I was in New York and I was woken up at 5am their time saying, 'Bayern Munich want to sign you'.
"So I was like, 'This is a bit random'. I never thought at 33-year-old that Bayern Munich would want to sign me, so it was more of a shock to me than anybody.
"Then I just got on the phone to the manager straight away, and to be honest, the manager knows the commitment I've got for the club.
"I never once tried to force a move out of the club. I am here now and the owners know the commitment I have shown to the club.
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Trippier added: "I speak to Harry [Kane] all the time. Harry was texting me, of course, but it just wasn't the right thing for me. But I take it as a compliment that a club like Bayern Munich wanted to sign me.
"He wasn't pushing, he was just texting 'Is it true?, just little things like that, really, just telling me it's warmer than Newcastle and having a bit of banter. But no, Harry's a professional, he wouldn't try and tap me up, as we say. There is nothing to say, really."
Trippier, who is under contract at St James' Park until June 2025, is currently sidelined with a calf injury and will miss this month's international break when England face Brazil and Belgium in friendly fixtures.
Nevertheless, the right-back is expected to be named in Gareth Southgate's final Three Lions squad, along with captain Kane, for Euro 2024 held in Germany this summer.
Tripper has made a total of 89 appearances for Newcastle across all competitions since joining from Atletico Madrid in January 2022, registering 10 assists in 25 Premier League outings so far this season.
Oliver Thomas
