Manchester City transfer target Tino Livramento has “shown no desire” to leave Newcastle, according to the Daily Mail reporter Craig Hope.
The England international has been identified as the top option to replace Kyle Walker but the Cityzens are not keen on being drawn into lengthy negotiations.
Hope claims Pep Guardiola’s side “don’t want to get involved” in a transfer saga that spans the whole summer, and with Livramento not giving any indication that he will push for a move to the Etihad, it suggests that the club will end up switching targets.
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It was reported last week that Newcastle may hold out for at least £70m to offload the fullback but manager Eddie Howe is determined to keep hold of him, and the reluctance to sell could prove to be a crucial factor.
Why do Man City want Livramento?
The former Chelsea academy player has developed into a top-class right-back over the past couple of seasons. After being mostly a rotation option in his first 12 months at St James’ Park, he has managed to supplant Kieran Trippier as first-choice since then.
Livramento is also adaptable. He has played at left-back regularly for both club and country, and he is currently starring for England at the Under-21 Championships despite not playing in his favoured role. That positional flexibility is something Guardiola likes a lot.
Are there any alternatives for the right-back spot?
Earlier in the summer, it was reported that the Cityzens were in negotiations with Flamengo for Wesley, while Juventus’s Nicolo Savona is said to be another option under consideration.
Savona’s teammate Andrea Cambiaso was also looked at during the January transfer window. Speaking about his future at the weekend, the Italian international made it clear that he is “happy in Turin”.
In other news, Napoli are considering whether to spend £45m on a Man City player