Sean Dyche’s close relationship with Kieran Trippier has sparked fresh speculation linking the England international to Everton.

On Thursday afternoon, The Athletic reported that Trippier has expressed a desire to leave Newcastle United after losing the captaincy, a situation that could pave the way for a reunion with Dyche at Goodison Park.

According to the report, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe recently informed Trippier that Bruno Guimarães would be taking over the captaincy for the new season.

This decision appears to have unsettled Trippier, who subsequently found himself on the bench as an unused substitute during Newcastle’s Premier League opener against Southampton.

In a further twist, Trippier played only 45 minutes in an under-21 fixture against Sunderland on Monday, adding fuel to the rumours surrounding his future at St James’ Park.

Despite the shake-up, Howe had suggested that Trippier remained an integral part of his plans, commenting last week:

“He’s [Tino Livramento] got serious competition in Kieran, and it’s going to be fascinating to see how those two players compete. They’re two top talents and two amazing characters.”

Yet, with Trippier entering the final year of his contract, it seems increasingly likely that he could depart Newcastle before the transfer window closes.

The 33-year-old full-back is not short of potential suitors, with clubs like Atalanta and Galatasaray reportedly keen on securing his services. Everton, however, stand out as a particularly interesting destination, given Trippier’s past working relationship with Dyche.

Dyche and Trippier’s bond dates back to their time together at Burnley, where Dyche managed the right-back during a crucial period in his development.

Speaking on the High Performance podcast last year, Dyche opened up about the strong rapport he built with Trippier, describing the player as a “lovable rogue” who had a significant impact on him.

“I mean, Kieran Trippier, he FaceTimed me when they won the league, he FaceTimed me off the pitch,” Dyche recalled, referring to Trippier’s La Liga triumph with Atlético Madrid. “And I’m just like, ‘Trips, what on earth?’ That means so much to me, because he knows that I had a reaction with him and him with me, well, it rubbed off on him and that means a lot to me.”

Dyche reflected on Trippier’s early days at Burnley, where the player’s raw talent was evident, but he needed guidance to reach his full potential.

“We got him as a little butterball, he wasn’t in the shape he needed to be in… Very talented young man, just a bit loose but he had a lovely edge about him. He’s a little loveable rogue, nothing terrible, not in big trouble or anything, just got an edge, you know what I mean? I really loved it on him and he just needed to push him a little bit, cajole him a bit but he listened so therefore, you build a real rapport.”

Trippier’s time at Burnley, under Dyche’s tutelage, saw him develop into a top-level right-back, a trajectory that led him to Tottenham Hotspur and later Atlético Madrid.

Despite moving on to bigger clubs, Trippier has maintained his connection with Dyche. “He still FaceTimes me now and again, rings me, you know, ‘Alright Gaffer, everything alright?’ I’m going, ‘yeah cool, what’s happening Trips,’ know what I mean?” Dyche shared.

As Trippier’s future at Newcastle hangs in the balance, Everton’s interest, coupled with his strong relationship with Dyche, makes a move to Goodison Park a tantalising prospect.

Whether the two will reunite remains to be seen, but it’s clear that Dyche holds Trippier in high regard and would likely welcome him with open arms. With the transfer window ticking down, the coming days will be crucial in determining where Trippier’s next chapter unfolds.