Fabrizio Romano provides Newcastle United transfer update as Man City agree £36.3m deal with full-back
Manchester City Eye Newcastle’s Tino Livramento Amid Full-Back Reinforcements
Tino Livramento has quickly become one of the Premier League’s most exciting young defenders since joining Newcastle United from Southampton in 2023. The now 22-year-old full-back made the switch to St James’ Park for an initial fee of £31 million, and in just two seasons, he has firmly established himself as a vital part of Eddie Howe’s plans.
Since his arrival, Livramento has grown into a dependable figure for the Magpies, showcasing his versatility by performing admirably on both flanks—whether operating as a right-back or filling in on the left. His development has not gone unnoticed at the national level either. Now a full England international, Livramento is also part of the current Under-21s squad preparing for the upcoming European Championships in Slovakia. Notably, he is the only player in that youth setup to have already earned a senior cap.
Manchester City Register Strong Interest
Livramento’s rapid progression and ability to play on either side of the backline have caught the eye of several top clubs, most notably Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. With the Premier League champions looking to strengthen their defensive options this summer ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup, Livramento has emerged as one of City’s top targets. Guardiola is reportedly seeking a dynamic full-back to inject fresh energy into his squad, and Livramento’s name is high on the shortlist.
City have already made significant strides toward signing Wolverhampton Wanderers left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri for a fee of around £36.3 million. That move appears close to completion, but acquiring Livramento looks far more complex. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, discussions between the two clubs have stalled, with Newcastle showing no willingness to lower their valuation of the player. Romano described the deal as “complicated” and “almost impossible” to finalise ahead of the Club World Cup, which kicks off this weekend.
Romano confirmed the situation on social media, tweeting:
“Negotiations for Tino Livramento to Man City are currently complicated and on stand-by. Newcastle are not reducing their asking price as they want to keep Livramento, almost impossible to agree on terms in time for Club World Cup.”
Newcastle’s Firm Stance on Livramento
While Newcastle have not officially set a price tag for the 22-year-old, sources suggest any potential deal would have to surpass the club’s current record for a player sale. That figure remains at £35 million, the amount Liverpool paid for striker Andy Carroll back in 2011. The club did sell midfielder Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest for the same fee last summer, but that transaction was part of a swap deal that saw goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos head to Newcastle in return at an inflated valuation of £20 million.
Newcastle remain adamant that Livramento is not for sale unless an extraordinary offer is made. The Magpies are keen to retain their core young talents as they build a side capable of consistently competing in European competitions.
Howe Full of Praise for Livramento’s Impact
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has repeatedly praised Livramento’s attitude, professionalism, and on-field performances. Despite being signed primarily as a right-back, Livramento has impressed many with his ability to slot into the left-back role, especially in the second half of the 2024-25 season after Lewis Hall suffered a season-ending injury.
One of Livramento’s standout performances came in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool, where he started at left-back. His perfectly weighted cross led to Jacob Murphy assisting Alexander Isak for Newcastle’s second goal in a memorable 2-0 victory at Wembley.
Livramento retained his place on the left side of the defence during Newcastle’s late-season surge, helping the team secure Champions League qualification. Notably, the Magpies became the first Premier League club to qualify for the prestigious competition via UEFA’s newly introduced European Performance Spot rule, which awarded England’s fifth-placed side a spot in the tournament due to the country’s high coefficient ranking.
Reflecting on Livramento’s contributions across both flanks, Howe said:
“I think the beauty of Tino is that he can do both. He’s shown incredible maturity and adaptability, whether we’ve needed him to attack down the right or defend resolutely on the left. His development has been phenomenal, and he’s only going to get better.”
A Star for the Future
Livramento’s combination of youth, tactical intelligence, pace, and positional flexibility make him a highly valuable asset not just for Newcastle, but potentially for any top-tier European side. Manchester City’s interest serves as recognition of the defender’s quality, but prising him away from St James’ Park will not be easy.
Unless a substantial offer arrives that Newcastle simply cannot refuse, Livramento looks set to continue his journey on Tyneside—one that could see him grow into one of the Premier League’s best full-backs over the next few years.