Transfer Centre

Southampton defender Tino Livramento 'reluctant to join Newcastle United, Chelsea'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 04 July 2023

Livramento 'reluctant to join Newcastle, Chelsea'

Tino Livramento would reportedly rather remain at Southampton than join either Newcastle United or Chelsea this summer.

Southampton defender Tino Livramento is reportedly expected to turn down a move to either Newcastle United or Chelsea.

Livramento has just spent the majority of the 2022-23 campaign on the sidelines, a consequence of a knee injury suffered at the end of the previous season.

In total, the England Under-21 international missed 13 months of action before recovering in time to feature as a substitute in Southampton's last two Premier League fixtures before relegation.

Up until recently, it appeared a near certainty that the 20-year-old would remain at St Mary's and look to gain regular game time in the Championship.

However, last week, Newcastle allegedly put forward a proposal for the right-back as they bid to find extra competition and an eventual successor for Kieran Trippier.

Southampton's Joe Aribo and Tino Livramento look dejected after the match on May 21, 2023 © Reuters

As it stands, the Magpies are yet to reach an agreement over a fee with their Saints counterparts, who allegedly want to recoup in the region of £30m.

Chelsea - Livramento's former club - are also said to be monitoring the situation having been forced to part ways with the academy prospect two summers ago when he entered the final year of his contract.

Nevertheless, according to the Evening Standard, Livramento would prefer to remain on the South Coast for the foreseeable future.

His ex-employers are said to be supportive of that stance with a loan back to Southampton to accompany any bid that they may make for their former youth player.

Chelsea co-owner and chairman Todd Boehly before the match on April 18, 2023 © Reuters

That said, it is suggested that Livramento's focus is on backing up his return to fitness in May and putting together a run of appearances in 2023-24.

With Kyle Walker-Peters expected to be sold by Southampton, that would theoretically leave Livramento in line to be first choice under new head coach Russell Martin.

Livramento had made 28 outings in the Premier League during the 2021-22 campaign before his season was curtailed with an ACL injury on April 24.

Southampton remain in a strong position with regards to his future with three years still remaining on his contract.