Newcastle's right-back search - Potential targets, budget options & transfer verdict
The right back position is one that needs an overhaul this summer.
Kieran Trippier will be leaving the club at the end of his contract, in addition to Emil Krafth. The latter wasn't used as much, but he still offered depth to the position.
Tino Livramento's future is far from certain, as he enters the last two years of his contract. Arsenal have been linked with a move for the England international. Although Lewis Miley has signed a new deal and showed a good performance level in the position, he will be hoping for greater minutes in midfield.
Ideally, the club would benefit from signing two right-backs. However, the profile of player and whether we do sign one or two will depend on the future of Livramento. Despite his injury problems during 2025/26, he will still be considered a starter for us. If he remains, the club could seek to sign a younger player to develop and offer competition to the Chelsea academy graduate. If he also departs, the club will need to sign two players or accept that Miley will be primarily playing his football at full-back. It is an option but feels like a waste.
Possible Tino Livramento replacements
Ivan Fresneda (Sporting Lisbon)
Ivan Fresneda is a name that Newcastle United fans will be aware of. He was linked a few years ago following his breakthrough in Spain with Valladolid. Since then, he has gained a lot more experience in Portugal with Sporting Club. This season, he played 10 times in the Champions League and he will have benefitted from that experience. One of his strengths is his versatility, as he can operate across the defensive line.
Unsurprisingly, as a Spanish full-back, Fresneda oozes technical ability. Rather than being a flying full-back, he offers teams control in possession. He is able to launch attacks from deep with his precise forward passing and step into midfield areas to create overloads. The 21-year-old doesn't panic when pressed and trusts himself to manoeuvre the ball to a team-mate. A pass accuracy of 87.8% underlines this part to his game.
Fresneda looks to be a good physical fit for the Premier League, as he doesn't shirk a battle. His aerial win percentage of 73.3% indicates this. Given an adjustment period, he would thrive in a physical league such as the Premier League.
The big weakness to Fresneda's game is in the final third, as shown by his average of 0.5 shots and 0.73 chances created per ninety minutes. This could improve as he develops, but he is unlikely to be a high contributor in the final third.
That being said, if Lewis Hall stays, that won't be a huge issue as he can provide the attacking threat from full back. Fresneda would add much needed technical ability to the defence, which will help us become more press resistant and play through the defensive third. Tactically, he would provide plenty of options to Eddie Howe, and he still has a high ceiling as a player.
Vanderson (Monaco)
It could be the right time to enter the market for Vanderson, as he has suffered an injury hit season. He is a very different tactical option to Fresneda, as he is more of an all-action attacker who will upgrade the team in possession. The Brazilian can both overlap and underlap, in addition to carrying the ball into the final third himself. He is also an excellent counter presser, as shown by his 11.5 defensive contributions per ninety minutes.
In Ligue 1 this season, he has averaged 0.23 expected assists (xA) and 1.62 chances created per ninety minutes. Vanderson also has a cross accuracy of 24.2%. This last 12 months has been hit by injury though. Last season, he contributed two goals and five assists in the league season, underlining the threat he can add to a team.
Due to his aggressive style, he can be caught short at times and that leads to holes in the defensive line. It is high risk, high reward and depending on the tactical direction of the team this summer, he may not be suited to us.
However, if we double down on the high pressing style that focuses on athleticism, Vanderson could be a perfect fit. In addition to the physical attributes required, he has a quality on the ball that would help us in possession.
Young rotation/squad options
Martim Fernandes (Porto)
Martim Fernandes is currently regarded as one of the most exciting full-back talents in Portugal. He is able to play on both sides of the pitch and has been used as a rotational option by his club this season. His talent is well known, but he has yet to break into the first team as a guaranteed starter. This should help any club in their attempts to recruit him.
The Porto player is a balanced full back option. Fernandes is good in both halves of the pitch without thriving in either, which means there is plenty of scope to develop him further. He is a perfect coaching project for the right manager.
His strengths as a player focus on his excellent mentality. Fernandes has thrived in a first team environment, and he is trusted by his peers. He is a quick learner and that has helped him make the step up to senior football, while his resilience has allowed him to bounce back when facing a disappointment.
Fernandes is a strong tackler, who defends spaces well. His defensive iq is high for a player at only 20-years of age. The Portuguese player averages 3.3 tackles 0.72 possession wins in the final third per ninety minutes. There is strong foundation to his defensive work.
As a player, there is a rawness to Fernandes. He isn't ready to be bought by a Champions League club as a starter. That being said, he could be an excellent option for us as we seek a long-term option at right-back, especially if Livramento doesn't extend his deal.
If we are in the market for competition at right back with the view of that player being Livramento's replacement in 12 months time, Fernandes is a good option.
Pedro Lima (Wolves)
Pedro Lima would represent a huge gamble in the market, but shares similarities with our move for Will Osula when Sheffield United were relegated. The right-back currently plays for Wolves and featured a handful of times during their awful relegation season. He isn't ready for first team football in the Premier League. There is still plenty to like about him though, as he has the raw attributes to develop into an excellent modern day full back. He is still only 19.
With the ball, he is dynamic with a quick burst of acceleration that makes him dangerous in one vs one duels. Lima enjoys running with the ball, with dribbling being one of his biggest strengths. In 259 Premier League minutes, Lima didn't have a lot of time on the pitch and data needs to be treated with caution. However, 1.39 shots, 1.04 chances created and 1.39 successful crosses per ninety minutes shows some promise in a poor team.
Defensively, he is a good tackler but needs to learn a lot about the mental side of defending. His positioning needs work and he needs to learn the right times to be aggressive. That is unsurprising for a 19-year-old though. Lima will also need to develop physically to become a regular in a top European league.
Pedro Lima would represent a risky purchase, but an exciting one. As we will have less matches next year, we can afford to take more risks and gamble on Howe's ability to develop a player on the training ground. His work with Will Osula and Lewis Hall should give confidence to this approach.
Low-cost options/free agents
It is difficult to know the profile of player the club will choose to target. If Livramento remains, there is a good argument for playing it safe and targeting an experienced back-up for him. Given his injury record, the second choice right back could be needed to play a high number of minutes.
There will be an appetite to move away from low risk, plug in and play Premier League players this summer, due to last summer. Yoane Wissa and Anthony Elanga have had nightmare seasons on Tyneside, but it could be a market the club look to in certain situations.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham)
All Premier League clubs will be looking at West Ham this summer after their relegation. They are the most established club to be relegated in years, which means there could be shrewd deals for other clubs to swoop in on. Aaron Wan-Bissaka wouldn't be a right back target that raises the heart rate of any supporters, but for a rumoured £10 million, it could be smart business. There won't be many more experienced options available for that fee this summer.
Defensively, Wan Bissaka is known for being an excellent one-on-one player, capable of shutting down tricky wingers. He is only dribbled past 0.3 times per ninety minutes, which underlines this strength. There are few who enjoy limiting their opposite number more than he does.
On the ball, he is limited and lacks the technical ability required at the very top. This is why he didn't prove to be a huge success at Manchester United. Despite this, he has been a solid Premier League operator. In the 2024/25 season, he contributed two goals and five assists, which showed some advancement in his attacking play.
It wouldn't be an exciting signing but depending on the club's budget and Tino Livramento's future, the West Ham player could be a decent squad addition to provide cover.
Oscar Mingueza (Celta Vigo)
The Celta defender is set to be available as a free agent this summer and has been linked on and off for a few months now. He is a versatile defender capable of covering across the defensive line and will prove to be a great signing for somebody this summer. Aston Villa and Juventus have both been linked with a move. It is likely that his next club is already lined up, but if there is still a chance, we should be putting ourselves into the race.
At 27, he is slightly older than the ideal signing for us, but he is a very good player. He was voted into the Europa League team of the season. During the last two seasons, he has 12 assists across all competitions, which shows the creativity he possesses.
Mingueza's strengths lie in his energetic style, which allows him to cover lots of ground and contribute in both halves of the pitch. As a La Masia graduate, he has great technical skills that allow him to help his team in possession.
The biggest areas of concern in his game as his positioning and physicality. However, if he is available as a free agent, he would represent a low risk signing.
Verdict
It is difficult to know exactly what we will be looking for in the right-back market. Everyone knows it is a position we need to strengthen, but the lack of European football and uncertainty over Livramento adds complications.
If he stays, the club will need to bring in support for him. An experienced player like Wan-Bissaka or an exciting young talent like Pedro Lima would make sense. These would be the type of deals that would be more likely if Livramento signs a new deal.
Otherwise, the club will need to spend more on a long-term starter, like Fresneda or Fernandes.
Vanderson would prove to be high on the list of suitable players if Eddie Howe is looking to change the style of play to incorporate more attacking full backs. Considering the sharp drop-off in open play shot creation over the last 12 months, tactical development would make sense.
Stats taken from Fotmob
