Manchester City have identified Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento as one of four right-back transfer targets this summer, according to a report.
The dethroned champions have been missing a true right-back since they allowed Kyle Walker to go on loan to AC Milan during the January transfer window. Pep Guardiola hasn’t hidden the fact that finding a replacement is a top priority. Earlier this year, he made it clear: “We will need a new full-back in the summer,” the City manager emphasized. “Obviously.”
Throughout the latter part of the season, Matheus Nunes has awkwardly taken on the right-back role, partly because Guardiola feels he lacks the “cleverness” to play in midfield. Rico Lewis and Manuel Akanji have also filled in at right-back, but Livramento offers a more natural fit with Premier League experience.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the speedy right-back is on a “four-man shortlist” for potential defensive signings. City aims to secure a new player before the Club World Cup this summer, as Walker is expected to leave the Sky Blues permanently with “100%” certainty.
Romano doesn’t name the other members of the shortlist, although Juventus are thought to possess at least two of them. Reports of an agreement between City and Juve’s young right-back Nicolo Savona have gathered steam in recent weeks. The 22-year-old earned his first senior Italy call-up in November after enjoying a run in Juve’s first team in positions all across the back four.
Savona’s teammate Andrea Cambiaso is another long-term target for City. The versatile Italian, comfortable on both flanks, was thought to be the subject of a €65m (£54.7m) bid from Guardiola’s side during the January window which never came to anything.
There was even spurious claims that City could hijack Real Madrid’s deal to snap up Trent Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer this summer, but the Englishman is expected to complete his move to Spain in the coming weeks.
Any deal carried out at the Etihad will have to adhere to a strict budget. Despite continuing their extensive squad overhaul, City are thought to be planning to cut their wage bill.
