Eddie Howe reveals transfer priority after Newcastle United complete £30m move

Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe insists signing a right-back was a priority this summer after completing a £30million plus adds-on deal for Tino Livramento.

With Kieran Trippier, Javier Manquillo and Emil Krafth already at the club, The Magpies were expected to prioritise recruiting a left-back instead after Dan Burn, a recognised central defender, played the majority of last season there.

But injuries to both Manquillo and Krafth, who aren’t available for Saturday evening’s Premier League opener against Aston Villa, made Howe believe right-back was a priority.

At left-back, meanwhile, Howe has Matt Targett and Paul Dummett to call upon but not Jamal Lewis after he joined Watford on a season-long loan deal, which includes an option to buy next summer.

Howe said: “Emil Krafth’s been injured and is still injured. Unfortunately, he’s been out for a long, long time so I think when we looked at our situation,

“Javier Manquillo is currently injured so we have four contract right-backs but only two that are fit and available, and one of them is Tino. We felt it was a priority position for us and an area we needed to strengthen.”

Howe is hopeful Livramento can perform multiple roles as a left-back and as a right forward if required but sees the 20-year-old challenging and rotating with Trippier at right-back.

“Well, hopefully he can play different roles,” Howe said. “I think that’s something we’ll find out more in due course.

“I think he has played left-back before so naturally most right-backs can move over to the other side but it’s difficult for the left-backs, it seems, to come across. I think he can possibly play wide for us as well but we’ll predominantly use him as a right-back, I see that as his primary position.”

Livramento could be involved as a substitute for the visit of Aston Villa tomorrow. The England under-21s international has enjoyed a full week of training after joining from Southampton on Monday.

The former Chelsea man has already had a taste of St James’ Park having watched both Sela Cup games last week.

“He’s fully fit and training so there are no issues there, it’s just for us to be mindful of his load and all the things that come with it,” Howe said. Signing any new player changing the intensity - all those things are important. He’s already impressed me in training greatly this week.”

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Howe added: “There’s a lot to like. He’s very athletic, incredibly quick, dynamic and has really good endurance levels. He’ll be box-to-box, technically very good and is a great age.

“He’s back after a long injury. He’s had all of pre-season with Southampton and not missed a day so he’s looked in really good physical condition. It just needs to be taken into context that we need to look after him but he’s a really exciting player.”