An update has emerged on Newcastle United's hunt for Lille centre-back Sven Botman heading into the summer transfer window...
What's the talk?
Reporter Pete O'Rourke has claimed that the Magpies will go back in for the Dutch central defender after missing out on him earlier this year.
He told GIVEMESPORT: “I’m sure they will [make another attempt]. They tried really hard to sign him in January but just weren’t able to get that deal over the line with the player remaining in Lille.
“They still face big competition for his signature this summer with AC Milan very interested in bringing Botman to the San Siro, and obviously they have the lure of Champions League football.”
Supporters will be excited
The Toon supporters will be excited by this claim as Botman would be an excellent signing to add to Eddie Howe's squad this summer.
He is a talented young centre-back who has excelled in a major European league over the last two seasons and has the potential to get better.
The gem turned 22 in January and has the majority of his career left ahead of him, which means that he is a player the club can bring in as an investment for the future as well as someone who can immediately improve the team.
In the 2021/22 Ligue 1 campaign, the defender caught the eye with consistently impressive displays at the back...
These statistics illustrate how well he performed for Lille at the heart of their defence and this followed on from his sublime 2020/21 title-winning season.
He averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.08 and helped his team to keep 20 clean sheets in 37 games as they lifted the Ligue 1 title. Botman has proven that he can deliver top-quality displays on a regular basis in the French top-flight and this is why he can be an excellent signing for Newcastle.
No Magpies player averaged a rating higher than 6.98 (Dan Burn) in the Premier League and this suggests that the Dutchman would be an upgrade on what Howe currently has to work with.
The supporters will, therefore, be excited by the prospect of the club making another attempt to bring him to St. James' Park. His statistics, and age, suggest that he will be a terrific signing for the club and PIF are now tasked with being able to beat Milan to his signature in the coming months.