Newcastle ‘doing everything’ to agree deal for star Eddie Howe dubbed ‘excellent’
Eddie Howe sees Tino Livramento as a player Newcastle United cannot do without as they prepare to open contract talks with the full-back, sources have told Football Insider.
Manchester City are ready to accelerate their interest in Livramento after Newcastle managed to keep hold of him in the summer, with the 22-year-old seen as the Blues’ long-term solution at right-back.
As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Man City will continue to eye Livramento in future transfer windows, and this puts the onus on Newcastle to keep hold of him.
Howe singled Livramento out as “excellent” when speaking to NUFC Blog back in April, and my sources have said that Newcastle will do “everything they possibly can” to tie him down to a new long-term deal.
Football Insider revealed in July that Newcastle would demand over £80million for Livramento in a bid to fend off Man City, who were ultimately unwilling to go above £65m for the versatile England defender.
Sources have told Football Insider that with the transfer window closed and Livramento still a Newcastle player, Howe and the Magpies hierarchy will now look to ensure he stays put for the “forseeable future”.
Newcastle given ‘excellent’ Tino Livramento contract opportunity
Former Man United scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Newcastle are prioritising Livramento’s new contract talks over other exit-linked stars, as they attempt to make him unattainable for Man City.
“Obviously, there were links during the summer window that Manchester City were eyeing up a move for Livramento”, I told the Inside Track podcast.
“Now the window’s closed, you would imagine [for] Newcastle, it’s a perfect opportunity to sit down and discuss things with Livramento, and try and tie him down to a new deal.
“Newcastle will be doing everything they possibly can to try and secure his long-term future, and ensure that he stays at Newcastle for the foreseeable.”
Newcastle to free up January funds amid Livramento exit links
Journalist Craig Hope argued that Newcastle would reject bids of £165million for Livramento after taking a firm stance on Man City’s interest, and have since received a record-breaking fee for Alexander Isak.
Newcastle’s £125million windfall from Isak’s sale to Liverpool has already been spent, however, with Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa signed for £69m and £55m respectively from VfB Stuttgart and Brentford.
Wissa’s £55m fee is seen as grossly overpriced for a 29-year-old in the final year of his Bees contract, and it remains to be seen how much money the Magpies will have to throw behind a new contract for Livramento.