'We'll see' - Newcastle United player Eddie Howe loves doesn't rule out January exit
The Newcastle United defender is attracting interest from a Champions League club ahead of the January transfer window.
Newcastle United defender Emil Krafth has addressed speculation linking him with a January move to FC Copenhagen.
Krafth is regarded as an important member of the Magpies’ squad by head coach Eddie Howe, despite his lack of game time in recent seasons.
The 31-year-old, who can deputise at right-back and centre-back, is behind the likes of Tino Livramento, Kieran Trippier, Malick Thiaw, Fabian Schar, Sven Botman and Dan Burn in the pecking order, but has been accepting of his situation.
Krafth penned a new one-year contract in February this year, extending his stay at St James’ Park until the summer of 2026. But as he enters the latter years of his career, the Swede is being offered a potential route back to Scandinavia.
Newcastle United defender Emil Krafth on transfer links to FC Copenhagen
There are reports in Denmark that Champions League outfit Copenhagen are weighing up a winter move for Krafth, and the player himself hasn’t entirely ruled it out.
Krafth told Swedish newspaper Fotbollskanalen: “I haven’t heard anything from FCK. It’s more just what has been written in the papers. We’ll see. I have a contract with Newcastle until the summer, and I’ll have to think about it a little longer then.”
Krafth’s agent, Patrick Mork, recently claimed his wages - thought to be around £50,000 per week - would prove a stumbling block for Scandinavian clubs.
When that was put directly to Krafth, he replied: “I don’t know. I have no idea. I haven’t heard anything from Copenhagen. I’ve only read about it in the newspapers. No contact has been made. I’m at Newcastle and I’m focusing on that.
“If you compare a Premier League club with a club in Scandinavia, it’s clear that I earn more in the Premier League. Everyone does. But that’s all I know.
“I can’t comment on that because I haven’t received any questions [from FCK]. If you haven’t received the question, you can’t know what’s going to happen. If the question comes, I’ll have to comment on it.”
Eddie Howe waxes lyrical about Emil Krafth
The full-back is into his seventh season at St James’ Park after joining from French club Amiens for £5million in the summer of 2019.
Krafth has gone on to make 106 appearances, though is probably best remembered for his role in helping to keep Newcastle in the Premier League in the 2021-22 season.
Trippier joined from Atletico Madrid in the January, but a fractured foot saw Krafth brought into the side at right-back and his performances earned him the nickname “Krafu”.
At the start of the 2022-23 season, the Sweden international was dealt a cruel blow, with an ACL injury sustained in a Carabao Cup tie at Tranmere Rovers keeping him sidelined for over a year.
While Krafth hasn’t seen much game time since returning, he is regarded as a hugely valued and respected member of Howe’s squad.
Waxing lyrical about Krafth’s behind-the-scenes conduct, Howe said previously: “In my opinion, with a squad, you can’t have 20 players that always expect to play every minute of every game. You need a balance to the squad.
“Krafthy is incredibly driven and wants to play, as do all the players in the squad, but I think there is different dynamics and different personalities needed to make the squad harmonious. Emil is one of those people who helps create a really good environment, whether he’s playing or not.
“There are several members of the squad that I could speak the same of that have had incredible impacts that don’t necessarily get the credit they deserve but play a huge part, and Emil would be one of those. Those kinds of players are always so invaluable to me.
"He’s just such an unassuming, brilliant professional. Really hard working, so dependable. When you meet him, you instantly like him. He is a very good player and underrated by the outside world. Internally, we love him, and you can see his qualities. We really value him."