Former Premier League and England ace Stuart Pearce feels Newcastle United are paying a ‘really excessive amount’ for Southampton’s Tino Livramento with a deal up to £40 million agreed.
Then again, it’s worth pointing out that similar accusations were levied at Eddie Howe’s side around 2 months ago, when Alexander Isak arrived from Real Sociedad for a club-record £60 million.
And as the silky Swede fired Newcastle United into the Champions League – while producing an assist for the ages against Everton – it’s telling that few were talking about the size of his price-tag by the time May rolled around.
Though you can see why Pearce has reservations about Newcastle’s Tino Livramento eye-watering deal; the Magpies stumping up an initial £32 million, rising to £40 million (Sky Sports).
This, after all, is a baby-faced 20-year-old with fewer than 30 league starts under his belt. He missed almost the entirety of last season due to an ACL injury. What’s more, with the evergreen Kieran Trippier still one of the first names on Howe’s team sheet, Livramento’s early Newcastle career could see him as something of a £30 million back-up.
“We talked earlier in the show about value for money signings,” Pearce says on talkSPORT (4 August, 10.50am). “That seems a really excessive amount for the player where he is at this moment.”
Newcastle agree deal for Southampton’s Tino Livramento
On the other hand, Livramento’s outstanding breakthrough season in 2021/22 highlighted the tantalising potential of a player who appears to have everything in his locker to develop into a truly elite-level, modern-day full-back.
Trippier is no spring chicken either; 12 years Livramento’s senior.
What’s more, the 40 per cent sell-on clause Chelsea included in Livramento’s contract when selling him two years ago meant Southampton were always likely to demand an exorbitant fee.
“You can just see he’s got an aura about him,” former Saints team-mate Theo Walcott told talkSPORT in 2021.
“It just shows that there’s a future star there. He’s been absolutely fantastic.Do you know what, he reminds me a little bit of Gareth (Bale) when he came through as a full-back.
“That’s a big statement of course. But just feel like his presence and the way he drives and the pace and the power… He’s so strong with the ball and very clever and technically he is fantastic.”
Livramento’s sale could, meanwhile, lessen the need for Southampton to cash in on either James Ward-Prowse or Romeo Lavia, amid bids from West Ham and Liverpool.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
