- Arsenal reportedly interest is Newcastle star Tino Livramento
- Why the £50m reported fee cannot be accepted
- Livramento could be a precursor to the entire shape of the summer window
Nobody really knows exactly what Newcastle United’s summer transfer window will have in store. But one certainty is the Magpies having to fend off some major interest for their top players.
Anthony Gordon already appears to be nearing an exit and is thought to have played his final game at St James’ Park. The other of the top assets most likely to depart is Tino Livramento.
Livramento looked more than likely to join up with Manchester City this summer. But following a poor injury record and some subpar performances, the Citizens’ interest has cooled.
Instead, as was reported yesterday, it seems Mikel Arteta and the red side of North London are the party now pushing for the England international’s signature.
£50m not enough for Newcastle United to sell
Whilst the Magpies were seemingly prepared to lose Livramento in favour of keeping some of their other marquee players at the club, the sum being quoted is £50m, just £10m more than what the club paid for him in the 2023/24 season.
Although Newcastle’s current stance on that type of fee is unknown, it should at least raise some questions about whether letting him go is the best course of action at present.
Livramento has spent a good chunk of this season on the treatment table, and it’s safe to say he hasn’t exactly set the world alight when he has played.
As you would expect, that has had a profound effect on his price tag, which was initially thought to be close to £70m.
At that sort of price, it seemed a no-brainer to cash in on a player whose fitness struggles appear unsolvable.
But at £50m, the question becomes, could you replace him with a better player who makes the measly £10m profit worth it?
Not only that, but the club also has to weigh up whether the rather modest fee eradicates the possible future impact of selling a prized asset to a domestic rival – especially when considering where Newcastle United are aiming to go in the coming years.
Trippier’s departure and possible replacements
Newcastle are also losing talismanic captain Kieran Trippier at the end of the season, meaning that Livramento will be the only right-back option at the club when the window opens.
If Livramento does go, and not for the handsome sum of around £70m, it is unknown whether the club will be able to buy two new right-backs this summer amid all of the other positions in need of an upgrade.
In the current situation, keeping the England international for another year, if at all possible, and hopefully getting him playing a greater number of minutes, appears the best option.
Especially if the Magpies can then support him with a young, high-ceiling prospect who can develop in the background and share some minutes where necessary.
That being said, the Magpies do already have the highly rated Leo Shahar, who is becoming increasingly prevalent in first-team squads and looks set to continue his push for minutes next season.
Newcastle have already been linked with some players ahead of the summer window, the most prominent of which is Sporting CP’s Ivan Fresneda, who has a £69m release clause this summer. But if the club were to go after him, £50m from the Livramento sale would definitely not suffice.
Other circulated names are the likes of Union-Saint-Gilloise right-back Anan Khalaili and even Denzel Dumfries, who is now linked with a move to Liverpool.
Why the Magpies can’t sell
Even with all of the above reasons that a £50m sale to Arsenal doesn’t suit Newcastle, perhaps the most important of them all is positioning themselves as an elite club moving forward.
The Alexander Isak saga last summer caused chaos for Newcastle and really dampened the status the Magpies were building. But, if nothing else, the accumulated fee of £125m was a very healthy compensation for the troubles caused.
If a similar situation arises this summer and Livramento expresses his desire to leave, Newcastle physically can’t say goodbye for £50m.
That would not only show that they have softened in their negotiations from last summer but would also open them to being bullied by elite domestic rivals going forward, something which cannot happen if the ambitions are to be realised.
While allowing Anthony Gordon to leave is a blow, it feels a necessary one given the circumstances.
But Tino Livramento’s situation feels like it could be a precursor to how the entire summer unfolds, and Newcastle must be strong and intentional or face another collapse during a window of opportunity.
