A development has emerged regarding Newcastle United target Sven Botman ahead of the summer transfer window...

What's the talk?

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has relayed quotes from the Dutch defender revealing that the wheels are now in motion regarding to a move to Italy.

He tweeted: Sven Botman tells @ESPNnl: “AC Milan deal? We are working on that. It’s difficult for me to stay distant from things at the moment, I hear something about this almost every day. Things are in progress and I hope there will be more clarity before the pre-season”.

90min are also reporting that Milan are set to win the race for his signature and could confirm a deal as early as this week, putting an end to Newcastle's chances of landing the 22-year-old.

Supporters will be gutted

Botman's comments will surely leave Magpies supporters gutted, as they would suggest that he is keen on a move to the San Siro, with 90min's report backing that up.

Newcastle now look set to miss out on the Netherlands international unless there is a late twist to the tale, and fans will be fuming with this development as the defender would be an excellent signing for the club.

He is a player who could come in and make an instant impact on Eddie Howe's team, whilst also having the potential to improve even further in the future.

In the 2021/22 Ligue 1 campaign, Botman averaged a superb SofaScore rating of 7.10 as he started 25 matches, making 4.5 clearances per game and winning 66% of his duels as he showcased his defensive quality on a consistent basis.

Meanwhile, no Newcastle centre-back averaged a Sofascore rating of higher than 6.98 in the Premier League. This suggests that the Dutchman could be an immediate improvement on the club's current options, as he has shown that he can deliver to a higher standard than the Magpies enforcers week in, week out.

In the long-term, he can also be a wise investment by PIF. At the age of 22, he is in the early stages of his career, and he can enhance his value over time if he is able to develop on the pitch with the increasing experience that he gains at the top level.

Therefore, he would be a superb addition to Howe's team, and Newcastle fans will surely be gutted by the prospect of him now signing for Serie A champions Milan.

AND in other news, NUFC ready to pay £51m to land "extremely underrated" wizard, Howe would love him...