Newcastle United have struck a deal worth almost £40m for top defensive target Tino Livramento.
The Magpies look set to make the highly-rated right-back their third major signing of the summer following a £55m outlay on midfielder Sandro Tonali and a £38m deal for winger Harvey Barnes – and it’s understood they are eyeing further defensive reinforcements after the Allan Saint-Maximin sale released some of the Financial Fair Play restrictions on the club.
i reported last week that the Magpies wanted at least two defensive additions before the end of the transfer window and that they remained in productive talks with Southampton over Livramento. Now a fee has been agreed as Newcastle edge closer to another long-term target.
He will undergo a medical after travelling to the North East to complete a move that he has been desperate to make and personal terms will not be an issue.
Newcastle begun talks for the 20-year-old in June but discussions were complicated by his former club Chelsea‘s high sell-on clause.
That is understood to relate to any profit Southampton make on the player they signed for just £4m and the Blues could now bank almost half of the £40m fee.
Despite the high fee Newcastle believe they have pulled off another coup, bringing in a player who has tremendous potential. He missed almost the entirety of last season with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury but has featured for Southampton in pre-season.
He is understood to have been withdrawn from the Saints squad that will kick off the new EFL season at Sheffield Wednesday on Friday.
Newcastle have Kieran Trippier as their first choice right-back but Livramento can play in other areas and is viewed by the Magpies hierarchy as the perfect modern-day full-back, capable of attacking, setting up goals and also fitting into Eddie Howe‘s mantra that “intensity is our identity”.
The fee represents a bet both on his potential and what he can bring to the squad next season, when Newcastle will need to utilise their squad effectively given the added demands of a Champions League campaign.
Newcastle are set to agree a loan move for their other promising right-back Harrison Ashby to join Swansea City, which will pave the way for Livramento to move to St James’ Park.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/SVQN1cl
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