Arsenal‘s strength under Mikel Arteta is their defence and midfield, though that’s not stopping the Gunners boss from wanting even more at the back. Football insiders have confirmed Arteta wants another defender signed in January 2027 to prepare for a grueling second-half schedule across domestic and European fronts. The Gunners are looking to bolster their defensive options ahead of the winter transfer window, and a 23-year-old full-back has emerged as a primary target for Arteta.
However, in a scenario governed by strict Premier League and UEFA financial controls, Arsenal need to sell at least one high-value first-team player, such as Ben White or Martín Zubimendi (valued around £55 million), to balance the books after investing a massive £268 million in transfer fees ahead of this season’s title charge.
The Gunners’ interest in signing a full-back could raise more doubts about the future of White, who has fallen behind Jurrien Timber in the pecking order at right-back after a 2025-26 season in which he made just five Premier League starts. White, 28, who signed his four-year extension on Thursday, 14 March 2024, will have a year remaining on his contract at the end of this season and could become a strong candidate to be sold by Arsenal.
Arsenal have since raised funds by selling Martinelli to Al-Hilal and Jesus to Barcelona. The club would need to offload senior players before making a formal move for a new defender.
Why Arsenal’s search is linked to defender Tino Livramento
Arsenal have been linked with a move for Newcastle United defender Tino Livramento this summer, having registered 1 assist across 17 Premier League appearances in the 2025/26 campaign. Arsenal are reportedly mulling over a potential bid worth around £60 million for Livramento this summer, with no sign of contract talks at St. James’ Park.
Livramento, who originally joined the Magpies in a £32 million deal on August 8, 2023, will have two years left on his contract until June 30, 2028, at the end of the season, and has not yet shown a willingness to extend it, according to The Telegraph. This standoff situation has left Newcastle in a vulnerable position as they risk losing him on a cut-price fee, and Arsenal are prepared to take advantage of the uncertainty surrounding the defender’s future at St James’ Park.
Interestingly, Livramento shares the same agent as Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, which could work in the Gunners’ favour in a competitive bidding scenario against Manchester City. What’s more, Newcastle are begrudgingly prepared to greenlight Livramento’s sale next summer if they fail to tie the defender down to a new contract before then.
Arsenal’s long-standing situation in the transfer market has been selling players for a considerable fee, with Arsenal’s record sale being Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s £35m move to Liverpool in 2017, until they sold Gabriel Martinelli to Al-Hilal for a reported £55.7m to £60m this summer. Their inability to consistently generate money through player sales has created a difficult scenario over the last decade, though the departure of senior figures like Jesus (who had 32 goals in 123 games before his £8.6m move to Barcelona on Deadline Day, September 1) helped offload his £265,000-a-week wages to provide a necessary financial boost.
According to FI’s reporter, Pete O’Rourke, the explanation is:
“Arsenal and Manchester City are both tracking Newcastle United right-back Tino Livramento at the moment. The pair are both long-term admirers of the 23-year-old, and they have continued to ‘monitor’ him this season. Livramento’s long-term future at Newcastle is beginning to come under scrutiny, with his current contract due to expire in the summer of 2028. Sources say that the Magpies will reluctantly look to sell the England international next summer, if they cannot progress towards a new deal between now and then.”
Newcastle United are still keen to keep the England international, whose current deal runs until June 2028, if Livramento is willing to discuss a new contract before the January 1 transfer window opens, though they are aware his £60m to £70m market valuation could drop in a scenario where he refuses to agree to new terms. A lot could depend on his situation following eight separate injury setbacks over the past three years, which kept him from starting a single Premier League match early in the 2026–27 campaign, and whether negotiations over a new agreement make meaningful progress in the coming months of November and December.
Looking ahead to the upcoming Premier League game schedule, on November 21, Newcastle United vs Arsenal sets up a high-stakes scenario at St. James’ Park where the situation heavily favors league-leaders Arsenal (9W-0D-1L, 27 points) over 12th-placed Newcastle (3W-3D-4L, 12 points).
According to pre-match stats from ESPN, Arsenal boasts a 60.5% win probability and has won four of their last six meetings, including a 1-0 victory in April, while the high-value deal for this Matchweek 11 clash involves a crucial amount of 3 Premier League points on the line as Arsenal looks to extend their 5-point lead at the top of the table.
