Fabrizio Romano has dropped the latest on Newcastle United’s pursuit of Sven Botman on the Que Golazo YouTube channel.
It has been reported by The Telegraph that Newcastle United were very much interested in Botman, so much so that they lodged a £30 million bid, only for Lille to reject that offer which was the first blow PIF had in the transfer window.
Who would be better for NUFC?
Carlos!
Botman!
Botman did excite some Newcastle fans in the last few days as the defender appeared to like a picture on Instagram which was an edited picture of Kieran Trippier in a Newcastle United shirt after a fee was agreed to sign the full-back, showing he is keeping an eye on the club.
Romano has revealed what people close to the defender are currently saying about any potential January move.
“Maybe they will sell another player that is not Botman in this window, so keep an eye on Renato Sanches too. So I feel and also people close to Botman feel that keeping Botman is a priority because they know that in the summer this £30 million could be maybe £50-60 million.”
TIF Thoughts on Botman…
It’s clear as to why Botman is being targetted by Eddie Howe as he wishes to play a progressive and entertaining style of football which will involve playing out from the back and Botman currently boasts a 92.6% short pass completion percentage in Ligue 1, whereas Newcastle captain and regular defender Jamal Lascelles has the second-worst in the squad with 76.2%. (FBRef)
The Magpies currently have the worst average percentage of possession in the Premier League with 37.1%, so it’s clear they need to develop a style of play that allows them to control a game from the back and carry the ball further forward.
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