Newcastle United have reportedly had a second bid worth £30 million for Valentino Livramento turned down by Southampton, who are demanding in excess of £40 million for the 20-year-old right-back.
Newcastle United have ramped up their pursuit of Valentino Livramento this week with an improved bid. But Southampton want a sizeable transfer fee for a player touted to be a future England international. That is according to a report from The Sun, which claims Newcastle will have to cough up a whopping £40 million to prise the former Chelsea academy star from the Championship outfit.
Eddie Howe will need to add more quality and depth to his squad to cope with the demands of Premier League and Champions League football. But the capture of Sandro Tonali is a real statement of intent, while Harvey Barnes has already completed his move.
The Magpies looked to be closing in on another top player from Southampton after The Guardian reported on Thursday that Southampton are close to selling Livramento to Newcastle for £30 million, with Eddie Howe said to be a big admirer of the full-back.
The Toon had an initial £15 million offer for Livramento rejected earlier this month. But despite significantly upping their bid to around £30 million, it is now being reported Newcastle’s latest proposal still falls well short of Livramento’s valuation. The Saints are demanding £40 million for the 20-year-old, with Chelsea due a hefty sliding sell-on fee.
The Saints do not plan to sell Livramento this summer, despite their relegation to the Championship. Following an ACL injury, Livramento missed the vast majority of last season. But he is a player in high demand this summer, with Chelsea also looking to bring him back to the club.
The 20-year-old is one of Southampton’s most exciting prospects, and his potential was obvious to see in his debut season for the Saints, making 32 appearances in all competitions. The imminent sale of Allan Saint-Maximin to Al Ahli has enabled the Magpies to have far more flexibility where Financial Fair Play is concerned, as well as, of course, helping to finance new additions.
With their latest bid rebuffed, Newcastle will go back to the drawing board to decide whether to make a fresh offer or leave the negotiating table. £40 million for a player coming off the back of a serious ACL injury is steep, especially considering a new right-sided centre-back, left-back, and possibly a right-winger are still on Howe’s agenda.
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Newcastle United also appear to be well-stocked at right-back. But it is worth noting that Kieran Trippier was the only player to start every single league game for the Magpies last season, demonstrating the lack of quality cover behind him. Still, it would be a big surprise to see Newcastle meet the Saints’ £40 million asking price, as they are increasingly cautious about complying with Financial Fair Play regulations.
