Guardiola Eyes Newcastle's Livramento to Solve City's Right-Back Conundrum

Pep Guardiola is plotting a substantial move for Newcastle United's Tino Livramento this summer, aiming to fill what has become an increasingly troublesome gap in Manchester City's defence.

The right-back position has been a persistent headache for City since Kyle Walker's exit in January 2025, forcing the club to improvise with midfielder Matheus Nunes occupying the role for much of the campaign. While Nunes has eventually settled into the position, Guardiola appears ready to invest in a more natural alternative.

Livramento, 23, has impressed at Newcastle since arriving from Southampton in August 2023 for an initial £32million fee. The England international, who earned three caps for his country, represents an attractive long-term prospect for City's right flank, despite his preference for operating on the left side of defence.

His journey to Tyneside followed a Chelsea academy education and two seasons at St Mary's, where he made 30 Premier League appearances. A significant ACL injury in April 2022 forced him to miss 51 matches, though he returned to action and has since become a key figure under Newcastle's management.

Current injury troubles, with a hamstring problem sidelining him at present, appear unlikely to deter City's interest. The Etihad outfit have reportedly been monitoring the defender's progress for several months and are readying a concerted push to bring him north to Manchester this summer.

Newcastle hold the upper hand contractually, with Livramento tied to St James' Park until 2028. The club is eager to negotiate fresh terms and extend his commitment to the North East. However, the defender seems in no particular rush to put pen to paper on an extension, potentially leaving the door open for City's advances.

The broader question mark hanging over City's summer plans concerns Guardiola's own future. Having penned a two-year extension last season, the Spaniard remains contracted until the conclusion of the 2026/27 campaign. Speculation persists that he could depart the Etihad this summer, with PSG's Luis Enrique among the frontrunners to succeed him, alongside Chelsea's Enzo Maresca, Bayern Munich's Vincent Kompany, and Liverpool legend Xabi Alonso.