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The €50m transfer decision Arsenal must make this summer

Updated: 24 Apr 2026 14:26 BST | 4 min read

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal, 2025/26

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has confirmed that Valentino Livramento may not play again this season after suffering a groin injury against Bournemouth last weekend.

The England international was forced off in the 74th minute of Newcastle’s 2-1 defeat to Andoni Iraola’s side and he could be set to miss the remainder of the season as a result of the injury, with his place in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad now in doubt.

Speaking ahead of Newcastle’s trip to Arsenal on Saturday evening, Howe told reporters: “Tino went for a scan initially, a bad injury. He is due to have another scan at the weekend to determine the full extent of his time out, we will wait and see whether he plays again this season.”

Newcastle’s opponents this weekend are currently the frontrunners for Livramento’s signature this summer and, as exclusively revealed by FootballTransfers" href="https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/transfer-news/uk-premier-league/2026/01/exclusive-arsenal-monitoring-newcastle-star-tino-livramento" target="_blank">as exclusively revealed by FootballTransfers, he is one of three Magpies stars on Arsenal’s transfer radar, alongside Anthony Gordon" href="https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/transfer-news/uk-premier-league/2026/04/exclusive-arsenal-ready-anthony-gordon-bid-as-arteta-targets-english-core" target="_blank">Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali" href="https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/transfer-news/uk-premier-league/2026/02/exclusive-arsenal-transfer-news-sandro-tonali-newcastle-united-summer-2026-steve-kay" target="_blank">Sandro Tonali.

However, Mikel Arteta’s side simply must avoid finalising a deal for the 23-year-old during the upcoming window.

Arsenal must avoid Tino Livramento transfer

Livramento is an excellent player and, when fully fit, he is among the best full-backs in the Premier League. After all, interest from Arsenal and Manchester City doesn’t come lightly. However, he is simply far too injury-prone at the moment.

Arsenal need a reliable option capable of providing consistent competition for Jurrien Timber at right-back, if Ben White is sold as expected, but Livramento unfortunately can’t provide that.

Valentino Livramento, Newcastle

His current groin issue is the fourth separate injury he has suffered this season, and six consecutive Premier League appearances is the most he has managed before suffering another problem this term.

Last year, Livramento played 37 times in the English top flight and the only game he missed was due to illness in December. It’s been a completely different story this time around and signing him now would be extremely risky from Arsenal.

Instead, waiting for him to go another season injury-free would be the smarter course of action, especially considering Newcastle are likely to demand a fee well in excess of €50 million to sanction a sale.

Arsenal appear set on selling White, but keeping the Englishman at the club for another year, while waiting for Livramento to prove his fitness over the course of an entire season, could be a sensible alternative for the Gunners.