Newcastle have agreed a fee for Tino Livramento – who will arrive on Tyneside in the next 24 hours to undergo a medical – but the Saints star won’t be the last defensive addition on Tyneside this summer.
Speaking to the same source who revealed our interest in Livramento back in June, we’ve been told that a centre-back will now become the club’s top priority
Even before Fabian Schar hobbled off with a hamstring scare in our 1-1 draw with Chelsea last month, Eddie Howe has been keen to bring in a young, right-sided centre-back able to offer some much needed pace and athleticism to our back four.
A left-back remains a key area the club have been looking to improve this summer. However, as we revealed in May, we’ve refused to pay Arsenal’s £35m asking price for Kieran Tierney due to his poor injury record and released a piece on Tuesday explaining Chelsea’s ‘not for sale’ stance on Lewis Hall.
There is the possibility we look to bring in a left-back on a loan-to-buy basis, but Livramento’s ability to play down both flanks combined with frustrating pursuits of Tierney and Hall has seen attentions shift to centre-back for now.
Staying with potential loan-to-buy moves but moving further up the pitch, a temporary deal for a versatile forward is also one to watch, with Howe aware of our lack of strength in depth down the right flank. Additionally, we only have two out and out strikers at the club in Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson; who will need to be managed carefully given the hectic schedule and his history with injuries.So, expect our pursuit of a new right-sided centre-back to step up a gear in the coming days, with loan options at left-back and in attack set to be looked at if nothing changes on Tierney or Hall.
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