Manchester City are planning to sign Tino Livramento in a major player-plus-cash arrangement, according to sources who have spoken to TEAMtalk about early transfer manoeuvres ahead of January.
As the winter window edges closer, few Premier League names are generating as much noise as Livramento.
At just 23, Newcastle United full-back has grown into a central figure of club’s long-term vision under Eddie Howe, his form and rapid development propelling him into the conversation among England’s most promising defenders.
Now, Manchester City — serial challengers at home and in Europe under Pep Guardiola — are understood to be weighing a bold attempt to bring him to the Etihad.
City’s interest has been described as more than casual; the club are said to be “very keen” on assessing whether a deal could be brokered.
Having long prided themselves on maintaining depth in every position, City are aware they must refresh certain areas of the squad, especially after several demanding campaigns on multiple fronts.
In Livramento, they see a dynamic, modern full-back capable of injecting renewed energy into a side already laden with elite talent.
Manchester City are planning to sign Tino Livramento because of his acceleration, technical confidence and willingness to push high up the pitch which mark him out as a defender tailor-made for Guardiola’s style.
It is a system that places enormous emphasis on full-backs who are as effective in possession as they are out of it.
Meanwhile, City’s admiration has collided with Newcastle’s firm stance: they see him as one of the pillars of their long-term project.
Newcastle made a significant commitment when they bought Livramento from Southampton for £32m in August 2023.
Since then, his influence has risen steadily; eight appearances and an assist this season only reinforce what the club believe he can become.
Backed by their ownership and driven by ambitions to consistently secure European football, the Magpies are reluctant to lose players they consider foundational.
He’s in the plans for the club’s future, a source said, encapsulating Newcastle’s confidence in the young full-back and highlighting the emotional and sporting investment they have tied to him.
Livramento is contracted until 2028, giving Newcastle leverage at a moment when they are determined not to appear vulnerable in the face of interest from elite rivals.
Yet Manchester City believe they may have an avenue to negotiate — and it comes in the shape of 23-year-old goalkeeper James Trafford.
Trafford as the key piece in a potential swap
While Manchester City are planning to sign Tino Livramento, Newcastle are understood to be “very interested” in Trafford, whose journey back to City after earlier academy years was seen as a testament to his rising reputation.
A strong shot-stopper with a calm distribution style, Trafford had been projected as a future challenger within City’s goalkeeping ranks.
But the summer arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma dramatically reduced the pathway for game time, leaving Trafford in a position where a move in January now appears increasingly feasible.
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Newcastle’s goalkeeping department has faced scrutiny following injuries and inconsistency, and Trafford has emerged as a candidate capable of offering both immediate support and long-term security.
City, aware of Newcastle’s admiration, have privately assessed the potential of using the young keeper in a structured deal.
Should City propose a swap-plus-fee offer, Trafford would form the centrepiece of the exchange, with the Etihad hierarchy prepared to include a significant financial add-on to tempt Newcastle.
For City, this would represent a strategic and largely risk-free move: offloading a player unlikely to feature regularly while attempting to acquire a defender who could play a major role in Guardiola’s plans for years.
But the potential deal is about far more than Livramento or Trafford. It speaks to the broader landscape of Premier League competition — and the shifting dynamics between old superpowers and new challengers.
City’s financial strength has long made them the aggressor in the market, capable of initiating transfers that few others could afford.
