Arsenal and City are said to be ready to battle for a defenderplaceholder image
Arsenal and City are said to be ready to battle for a defender | Getty Images
Arsenal are said to like the look of a Premier League defender, but they are not alone.
Arsenal are said to be interested in a move for a Premier League defender with plenty of upside. The Gunners had a big summer of spending, with Andrea Berta having been given the go-ahead to add serious depth to the Gunners squad.
Players like Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke were snapped up, with hundreds of millions spent in a bid to ensure the Gunners end their more than two decade-long wait for their next Premier League title.
So far, the spending hard worked, with Arsenal now six points ahead of nearest rival Manchester City at the top of the table. It’s unclear how long the Gunners can continue their spending habits, with a huge amount spent over the last few years, and there is a danger that Arsenal could up in Chelsea’s situation, where they heavily rely upon exits to free up spending space due to spending rules.
But the Gunners are not there yet, and according to a report from The Sun, they are now eyeing up another pricey deal, this time to sign Newcastle United and England defender Tino Livramento. The report claims the former Chelsea star is at the centre of a transfer battle between Arsenal and Manchester City.
Livramento is believed to carry an asking price of around £60million, which was the price reportedly named last summer. The 23-year-old is under contract at St James’ Park until 2028, but he is said to want a new deal to reflect his importance to the first-team.
Livramento has said there have not been talks over a new deal, but the report claims a new deal for the defender is a priority for Newcastle, and it seems as though it should be given this reported interest.
A deal would surely have to wait until the summer, at the earliest, with Newcastle very unlikely to sell one of their key players to a Premier League rival this month.
Howe on Livramento’s development
Speaking last year, Newcastle boss Howe praised Livramento’s development. He said: “Athletically, Tino’s excellent, and we know that. We’ve seen that since he’s come to the football club.
“But to have the responsibility of playing left-back on the opposite side to his natural foot and play the way that he has. I just see Tino improving and he’s getting better all the time. We’re delighted to have him.”
Livramento’s mutual appreciation
Meanwhile, responding to interest in the summer amid an England call-up, Livramento praised Howe, adding: “The manager, I'm in constant contact with him. He has just said to keep focusing on what you're doing now and you're doing so well. So I think having that relationship with someone that is obviously such a big figure in what I've done so far is an amazing thing for me.
"I'm very much focused on what I'm doing here now. I don't know anything about that [City interest]. Being away with the under-21s is my main priority. I like to stay in the moment and just focus on what I can do to help the team now."
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