Arsenal set to make Tino Livramento move as Newcastle talks stall – Report

After reports of contract talks stalling, persistent injury woes, and Manchester City constantly being linked, there’s a very real possibility that the England star could be set to depart St James’ Park before the start of next season.

But it looks like Pep Guardiola’s side aren’t the only interested suitor within the Premier League, as another European rival have now set their sights on his signature…

According to The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards, Arsenal have thrown their hat into the ring to sign Tino Livramento, with a summer bid now on the cards.

The 23-year-old still has two years left on his current contract with us, but the stalling contract negotiations have put a number of clubs on red alert for one of the best right-backs in world football.

Though he is currently content with life on Tyneside, Newcastle are already aware of Man City’s long-term interest and may reluctantly negotiate should the England talent head into the summer with no extension signed.

Livramento shares an agent with Mikel Arteta himself, and there seems to be no end in sight for the Gunners when it comes to bolstering their defensive ranks and stockpiling the best in the league.

Edwards notes that Arsenal would need to make some sales to facilitate any kind of move for Livramento, and you would imagine that the Three Lions talent wouldn’t be keen on moving somewhere he isn’t a guaranteed starter over the likes of Ben White, Jurrien Timber, Ricardo Calafiori or Myles Lewis-Skelly.

With an ageing Kieran Trippier and a versatile Lewis Miley as his only competition, a fit Tino Livramento could lock down the starting right-back spot at Newcastle for the rest of his career if he wanted to.

But the key word there is ‘fit’, and unfortunately, the two long injury spells Livramento has endured this season alone should be enough of a warning sign to Eddie Howe and the recruitment team that a more dependable option could be necessary in the coming seasons.

We could command a significant fee for Livramento, and having been bought from Southampton for around £40m, we stand to make significant profit which would be immensely helpful to bolstering the rest of the squad.

But to lose Livramento would be to abandon one of the core fundamentals of our entire squad building plan: maintaining a youthful defence. It would send a bad message if we sold the star to either Manchester City or Arsenal.