Newcastle are getting closer and closer to signing an ‘excellent’ player

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With Harvey Barnes all-but wrapped up Newcastle United have already moved on to their next transfer target and are revisiting a deal for Southampton right-back Tino Livramento.

It’s been reported that Eddie Howe was after a new left-back this summer with many fans feeling that was an area of the squad that needed strengthening, however it looks like Newcastle are making their move for a defender who plies is trade on the opposite flank.

Newcastle’s interest in Tino Livramento has been reported several times already this summer but now The Guardian have claimed that a £30million deal is close.

Fans fear that Newcastle could be over-paying for Livramento at £30m

The 20-year-old defender has a versatility that Eddie Howe will find useful, but it’s more that he can play right-back or right-midfield. He’s never actually played at left-back in the top flight which is giving some fans cause for concern. Add to that the fact that he missed most of last season with a cruciate ligament injury and there’s a genuine fear that Newcastle could be over-paying.

The counter to that argument is that he’s still young and is therefore more likely to recover well than an older player who’d pick up that injury, and his actual ability has seen him likened to Gareth Bale by his former teammate Theo Walcott. So really, as long as that injury is managed and doesn’t return, we could actually be picking up a bargain.

Livramento is also admired by England boss Gareth Southgate who spoke of his ‘excellent‘ performances and will be keeping an eye on his development.

Newcastle fans’ big question will be where does he fit into the squad? The obvious answer would be simply that he will be back-up for Kieran Trippier while Harrison Ashby goes out on loan, which still leaves that issue of left-back to deal with.

Matt Targett may be set to feature more heavily for Newcastle next season

Another theory is that Trippier could move to left-back like he has done for England on several occasions and Livramento will take the right-back spot.

There’s even a suggestion that Livramento can play left-back so it could be quite a fluid thing, but really only Eddie Howe has the answer at this point.

I expect that Matt Targett, who is more comfortable going forward than Dan Burn, will play a bigger role for Newcastle this season which could be why Howe isn’t as focused on the left-back spot as we thought he’d be, but only time will tell.