Manchester City’s search for a new right-back ahead of the 2025/26 season continues.
Kyle Walker left Man City for Burnley at the start of this month, and with the Manchester club expecting the exit of the 35-year-old to happen before the summer transfer window opened, the plan was to always replace the full-back.
An update emerged on City’s top target on Monday, with it being reported that Newcastle are set to offer Tino Livramento a potential six-year contract extension, with the right-back believed to be keen on a new deal.
Man City’s stance on the Magpies star has now become clear after this update, as the Manchester club know how they are going to move forward from here.
Man City do not plan on bidding for Tino Livramento
Livramento has been Man City’s top target for the right-back role since before the summer, and it is believed that the Premier League giants are willing to spend around £65m to bring the Englishman to the Etihad Stadium.
Newcastle do not plan on selling Livramento for any transfer fee, as the right-back is a key part of Eddie Howe’s plans. Knowing this, and the fact that the 22-year-old is keen to pen new terms at St James’ Park, Man City have changed their stance on the player.
According to Manchester Evening News, Man City aren’t planning to bid for Livramento throughout the remainder of the transfer window, as they now reassess their options to replace Walker.
The report states that the Manchester club had briefly looked at the 22-year-old as a potential solution for the right-back role in their team, but given the complexity of getting the deal done, they have decided it is not worth bidding for the player.
The search for a right-back has not gone to plan for Pep Guardiola this summer, as it remains to be seen where the club go from here.
Rico Lewis could be Man City’s long-term right back
Man City are currently in talks over a new contract for Rico Lewis, and with the Manchester club showing this amount of faith in the 20-year-old, the 25/26 season would be the ideal time for the full-back to take the next step forward in his development.
Guardiola and City fans have had their doubts about the Englishman after what they saw last season, but with the Premier League giants’ search for a new right-back not going to plan, the upcoming campaign could be the youngster’s chance to make the position long-term.
If it doesn’t work out, Man City can reassess the situation again next summer, but for now, Guardiola might have to make do with Lewis and Matheus Nunes, which will worry fans heading into the new Premier League season.
