Newcastle United have reportedly agreed a deal to sign Lille defender Sven Botman this summer.

What's the news?

In a recent tweet, journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano shared some big news regarding the prospective €37m (£31.86m) transfer.

He said: "Paperworks are being signed tonight between Newcastle and Lille for Sven Botman, here we go! Full agreement confirmed, €37m with add-ons - and contract being prepared for Botman. Medical already booked. After three bids turned down in January, it’s now completed."

Having worked his way through Ajax’s youth ranks, the centre-back joined Lille in the summer of 2020. Since then, the 22-year-old has made 79 appearances for the Ligue 1 club across all competitions, scoring three goals and providing two assists in the process.

Great news for Newcastle fans

Taking into account how the Magpies have been pursuing Botman since January, as Romano mentioned, this latest news that the club have finally secured a deal for the defender will surely be music to the ears of Newcastle fans everywhere.

To further highlight the 22-year-old's defensive talent and what he could offer to Eddie Howe's side, in his 25 Ligue 1 appearances last season, the Dutchman made 120 clearances, 38 interceptions and 54 blocks and won 25 tackles.

In addition, the centre-back ended the previous league campaign with a higher average of clearances per game (4.5) than any other player at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

Botman's overall performances earned him a solid season rating of 6.83/10, making him the third-highest rated player in Lille's squad according to WhoScored. To put that into perspective, that rating would make him the joint-sixth highest rated player in the Toon squad from last season alongside Joelinton.

Bearing in mind how Newcastle ended their 2021/22 Premier League season with 62 goals conceded, which is more than the likes of Burnley, Brentford and Aston Villa, adding the Dutchman to their squad will surely make Howe's team stronger at the back.

In addition to his attributes on the pitch, the fact that Newcastle have agreed a deal for the 22-year-old will be great news for the club as a whole and for the fans, as it will now give them the chance to move on from this saga and focus on other potential transfer targets that the Magpies may want to bring in this summer.

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