NEWCASTLE UNITED have agreed a deal to sign Tino Livramento, with the Southampton full-back set to undergo a medical on Tyneside in the next 24 hours.

After weeks of intensive negotiations, the Magpies finally reached an agreement with the hierarchy at St Mary’s yesterday after Livramento had been left out of the squad for Southampton’s opening game of the Championship season at Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow night.

Newcastle will pay an initial fee of around £35m for Livramento, with a series of add-ons potentially taking the final value of the deal to the £40m mark.

The 20-year-old will become the Magpies’ fourth signing of the summer transfer window, following Yankuba Minteh (who has subsequently been loaned to Feyenoord), Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes.

An England Under-21 international who joined Southampton from Chelsea in the summer of 2021, Livramento has primarily been signed to provide cover and competition for Kieran Trippier at right-back.

However, he could also be used on the left of the back four, or enable Trippier to switch to left-back, where he has occasionally played for England in the last 18 months.

Livramento has made 38 senior appearances for Chelsea and Southampton, although he missed almost all of last season after sustaining serious knee-ligament damage in the final weeks of the previous campaign.

READ MORE:

Eddie Howe reveals Lewis Miley plan ahead of new season

He returned to make substitute appearances in the final two games of last term, and has been a regular presence during Southampton’s pre-season programme.

He should, therefore, be relatively match fit, although it remains to be seen whether he is considered for a place in the squad for Newcastle’s opening Premier League fixture against Aston Villa a week on Saturday.

Southampton boss Russell Martin had wanted to keep him at St Mary’s, and the Southampton board rejected Newcastle’s initial offer which was tabled last month.

However, the Magpies’ persistence has paid off, with the Saints hierarchy eventually concluding that they would have to allow Livramento to travel to the North-East.

The London-born youngster is keen to return to the Premier League, and becomes the latest in a lengthening line of promising youngsters who have been signed by Newcastle since Amanda Staveley’s Saudi Arabia-backed consortium completed their takeover of the club.

The Magpies complete their pre-season programme this weekend with matches against Fiorentina and Villarreal at St James’ Park in the Sela Cup.