INEOS ‘surprised’ Man Utd didn’t consider signing Tino Livramento

Sir Jim Ratcliffe recently completed his purchase of a 28% stake in the club and is busy working on internal restructuring, with Manchester City’s Omar Berrada appointed as their new chief executive starting this summer and Newcastle’s Dan Ashworth closing in on being confirmed as the sporting director.

INEOS and Ratcliffe are also beginning to identify positions and profiles for the summer transfer window – 90min recently reported they are looking to sign a striker, centre-back and versatile full-back, while a midfielder will also be on their radar with Michael Olise already an approved target. Even a defensive midfielder could arrive if Casemiro departs, with interest coming from Saudi Arabia.

Man Utd’s need to bring in a quality option at full-back has been evident for a while. Sources have told 90min that INEOS are admirers of Livramento and there have questions why he was not considered last summer. Livramento left Southampton following their relegation from the Premier League and joined Newcastle for an initial £32m fee plus a further £8m in add-ons.

The need for a left-back is perhaps more pressing for Man Utd, but Livramento can switch from the right if needed. He has filled in at left-back for Newcastle and proven to be one of their most promising players across an indifferent campaign thus far and has also put his injury problems behind him, missing out on only one Premier League matchday squad this season, and this was due to illness.

Man Utd may not have viewed an approach for Livramento as within their financial means, but INEOS believe transfers for young profiles like him should be viewed as investments not expenses, so it would have been worth paying more for a youthful player with great ability. The 21-year-old’s wages would also have been lower compared to Man Utd’s median, while his price tag would stand to grow with good performances.