Hugo Viana faces dilemma as Newcastle retain stance on Manchester City target | OneFootball

Manchester City have received an update on Newcastle’s stance on right-back target Valentino Livramento ahead of the reopening of the transfer window next month, as per a new report.

City have added left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri to their squad ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup – alongside goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli, midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and winger Rayan Cherki – and are expected to address their right-back concerns after the tournament.

Pep Guardiola’s side have travelled to the United States for the Club World Cup, with Kyle Walker absent from the squad after being told by club officials to find a new club and that he has no future at the Etihad Stadium.

Walker is entering the last year of his current deal and has returned to England after a loan spell at AC Milan, whom he joined in January after losing his spot in Guardiola’s starting XI in the closing months of 2024.

Hugo Viana has wasted no time to lay down a marker after taking over from Txiki Begiristain as Manchester City’s director of football – securing the arrivals of Ait-Nouri, Bettinelli, Reijnders and Cherki in 10 days for the quartet to be eligible for the Club World Cup.

Manchester City are now expected to shift their focus to outgoings and decisions on contracts of players who may leave the club when the transfer window reopens in July, with Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips all expected to find new clubs.

Walker’s inevitable exit signals a need for reinforcements at right-back and Manchester City are understood to be favouring a swoop for Newcastle and England defender Valentino Livramento, who has three years left on his current deal at St. James’ Park.

However, Viana is facing a major dilemma in his search of a new right-back as Newcastle remain adamant on keeping hold of Livramento, whom they will only cash in on for a transfer that is too good to refuse – which would arguably come at a price Manchester City are unlikely to meet.

Mail Sport are reporting that Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has told club officials he absolutely intends to keep hold of Livramento, who is also understood to have shown no desire of forcing a move away amid interest from the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City will have held talks with the player’s camp to gauge the Englishman’s interest in joining forces with Guardiola but with three years left on Livramento’s contract, there is little that Viana and co can reasonably do to bring down Newcastle’s asking price.

City are in a similar position with Livramento as they were with Harry Kane in the summer of 2021 and the length of time remaining on the former’s deal at St. James’ Park means he will have to express an interest to leave and initiate a transfer from his end.

It is unlikely that Manchester City get involved in a lengthy transfer saga and should club officials feel Livramento is too tough a get this summer, the Blues will move on to other targets and possibly rekindle their interest in the Newcastle star next summer.