Tino Livramento using Man City as 'leverage' to agree Newcastle deal
Tino Livramento's agent could be using interest from Man City to agree a new contract with Newcastle for the 23-year-old.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes Newcastle will not want "another Alexander Isak situation."
Man City have been backed to sign Livramento, and Pep Guardiola's side could make a move in January amid the defender's contract situation.
Contract talks between Livramento and Newcastle have stalled, with the England international delaying a decision over his future until next summer.
Tino Livramento 'to force' Newcastle decision
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness - who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs - believes Livramento could leave Newcastle in January at "the right price."
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness though thinks Livramento could be holding out for a "bumper contract" at Newcastle.
He told Football Insider's Inside Track podcast: “If Livramento wants to go it's going to be hard for him to do that, and if he's still going through contract negotiations, then as I say they run the risk of entering into another Isak situation which was really damaging and really hurt Newcastle a lot.
"So I think it's going to be the case if they get the right price in January, he may go, but Newcastle are going to have to open the wallet, I think, and open the cheque book and get a new contract deal from if they do.
“Certainly his agent is going to be using Man City as leverage all the way until it's signed. So I'd expect it to be a bumper contract for him to stay and that's how they're going to force it.”
Livramento concern emerges
There is concern about Livramento after he was forced off during Newcastle's 2-1 win over Fulham in the Carabao Cup.
Newcastle will meet Man City in the semi-finals of the competition in the new year, with the Toon looking to retain the trophy.
The two-legged affair will decide who meets either Chelsea, Arsenal or Crystal Palace in the final at Wembley Stadium in March.