Guardiola Targets Newcastle Star to Replace Kyle Walker | OneFootball

Man City Step Up Pursuit of Tino Livramento as Kyle Walker Exit Nears

Manchester City have stepped up their efforts to recruit a new right-back, with Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento emerging as a serious candidate. The 21-year-old is reportedly on a four-man shortlist of potential signings as City plan a summer shake-up in defence, prompted by the likely departure of Kyle Walker.

City’s need for a specialist right-back became increasingly evident after Walker was loaned to AC Milan in January. Since then, manager Pep Guardiola has experimented with various solutions, none of which have fully convinced. Speaking earlier this year, Guardiola left no room for doubt: “We will need a new full-back in the summer,” he said. “Obviously.”

Livramento Among Key Targets for Guardiola

Livramento, who joined Newcastle from Southampton last summer, has impressed in limited game time due to his recovery from a long-term injury. However, his powerful runs, positional awareness and Premier League experience have not gone unnoticed. According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, he features prominently in City’s shortlist, which also includes two Juventus defenders.

https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1922074470308614183

While Matheus Nunes has been used in the unfamiliar right-back role in recent months, Guardiola publicly questioned his suitability in midfield, stating he is “not clever enough” for that role. Rico Lewis and Manuel Akanji have also deputised, but Livramento represents a more natural and long-term solution.

Juventus Duo and Alexander-Arnold Speculation

Although Romano did not reveal the full list of City’s targets, Juventus are believed to be heavily involved. Reports suggest that 22-year-old Nicolo Savona, who broke into the Italy squad last November, is on the radar. He has caught the eye with his ability to operate across the backline and is said to be admired by City’s scouting department.

Andrea Cambiaso, another Juventus player with versatility on both flanks, was reportedly the subject of a €65 million (£54.7m) bid in January. Although that offer did not materialise into a deal, Cambiaso remains of interest.

Speculation around Real Madrid-bound Trent Alexander-Arnold briefly linked the Liverpool star with a late swoop from City, but those rumours appear to be without substance. The England international is expected to complete his move to La Liga this summer.

Budget Constraints Despite Ambitious Plans

City’s plans to bolster their squad ahead of the Club World Cup are being shaped by financial prudence. The club, while continuing its tactical reshaping under Guardiola, is believed to be tightening its wage structure. Any new arrival, including Livramento, will have to fit within those fiscal limits.

With Walker’s permanent exit described as “100%” certain, identifying a reliable successor is a top priority. Livramento, with his youth, pace and adaptability, offers a compelling option as City look to future-proof a position that has lacked consistency since Walker’s departure.

The radar chart above provides a comprehensive statistical snapshot of Valentino Livramento’s performance over the past 365 days, based on 2,660 minutes of action. It compares his output to other full-backs across three key performance categories: attacking, possession, and defending.

Possession-Based Strengths

Livramento stands out most in possession metrics. His pass completion (85th percentile) and progressive passes (83rd percentile) highlight his composure and effectiveness when building from the back. He’s also ranked highly for progressive carries (79th) and passes attempted (85th), reflecting his willingness to advance play and operate as a transitional outlet—crucial traits in a Guardiola-style full-back.

Defensive Solidity

Defensively, Livramento showcases impressive numbers in clearances (82nd percentile) and tackles + interceptions (62nd percentile). This indicates strong positioning and proactive ball-winning, even though he’s slightly less dominant aerially (31st percentile) and in duels against dribblers (29th percentile).

Attacking Output

His attacking metrics are more modest. While he registers fairly in xAG + xG (45th percentile) and shot-creating actions (24th), his non-penalty expected goals (npxG) and actual goals scored remain low, both in the 3rd and 19th percentiles respectively. This suggests his role leans more towards facilitating than finishing.

Conclusion

Overall, the data supports the notion that Livramento is a possession-savvy full-back with solid defensive contributions. Though not a prolific attacking threat, his profile aligns with teams like Manchester City, who value ball progression and tactical discipline over raw attacking output.