Newcastle In Advanced Talks To Sign Versatile English Fullback: Shrewd Option For Howe

Newcastle United are reportedly in advanced talks over sealing a move for Southampton right-back Tino Livramento.

Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League has seen a host of their players being linked with moves away. Tino Livramento is one of those, with Newcastle United understood to be admirers of his talent. The Magpies are looking to sign the full-back, despite the youngster missing over a year of Premier League action following a cruciate ligament injury in April 2022. He only returned to action right at the end of the 2022-23 season, making only two league appearances in the process.

According to The Telegraph, Newcastle are closing in on a deal to bring Southampton’s Tino Livramento to St. James’ Park this summer.

Livramento, 20, enjoyed a solid debut campaign with the Saints having moved from Chelsea for just £5m in the summer of 2021. He made 28 appearances in what turned out to be his breakthrough campaign in the top flight, registering a goal and two assists.

The report adds Newcastle are well short of Southampton’s valuation of the 20-year-old, who the Saints feel is a £30m player but Eddie Howe’s club are keen to pay around £15m. The Toon Army have already submitted a proposal to sign Livramento in a player-plus-cash deal involving castaway Ryan Fraser.

Tino Livramento to Newcastle United—Smart signing?

Newcastle United have made tremendous progress under the astute management of Eddie Howe. They were battling relegation at one point during the 2021-22 season before Eddie Howe walked in and changed the fortunes of the club.

With the new owners coming in last year, the Magpies have an ambitious project in place and the Champions League qualification this past season will help them to attract exciting youngsters and big-profile players from across the continent. Howe has made the signing of a left-back one of his priorities this summer, but now with Tino Livramento being firmly on the club’s radar means he is also looking at increasing the depth in defence.

Livramento is a versatile full-back who is comfortable playing in both positions. Highly impressive both when defending and attacking, the 20-year-old would significantly improve Newcastle’s full-back options which currently include Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn, Matt Targett, Harrison Ashby and Emil Krafth.

Trippier and Burn were permanent fixtures for the Magpies at right-back and left-back respectively last season, with Targett acting as a backup to Burn. Krafth spent the majority of the 2022-23 season on the sidelines with an ACL injury and the club will wait until he is fully recovered before deciding on his future.

If the Toon Army decide to sell Krafth this summer, it will leave Howe with just Trippier and Ashby as right-back options. This is when the signing of Livramento would make sense, with the youngster able to cover and compete in both full-back positions. He is young, fresh and ready to make a strong comeback after an unfortunate long-term injury last term. The opportunity to play in the Champions League with Newcastle next season could prove to be difficult for him to turn down.

At 20, Tino Livramento has a long way to go in his career, and he would represent a fantastic long-term investment for Newcastle.