Newcastle United are now hopeful of landing Sven Botman this summer following the appointment of Dan Ashworth.
This has been suggested by the TalkSport journalist Alex Crook, who spoke live on air about the latest transfer news on Tyneside.
Reports have claimed the two main clubs battling it out for the Dutchman this summer are Milan and Eddie Howe’s Magpies, with a Lille departure expected.
A number of other clubs like Tottenham Hotspur have been credited with an interest in Botman, but it is believed he ranks lower on their list than other targets.
Crook stated that Ashworth went to watch the 22-year-old at the weekend against Wales for the Netherlands’ U21s side, which has the Toon growing in confidence of landing the centre-back.
He said: “Dan Ashworth, their new sporting director, watched one of [their January targets] at the weekend, Sven Botman, playing for Holland U21s against Wales.
“Newcastle willing to pay more than £30m for a player they’ve been chasing since the new owners came in. AC Milan earlier in the summer did look like frontrunners, but that seems to have gone cold now.”
TIF Thoughts on Crook’s comments…
This does seem like a saga which has the potential to drag on, with no side seemingly coming close to landing Botman in recent weeks.
Are you confident of landing Botman?
Yes
No
However, we are sure Newcastle fans will be growing ever more frustrated as they aim to finally land the Dutchman after their failed attempts in the January window.
Is Botman worth the hassle? Well, we certainly think he would be a shoo-in to Howe’s starting XI given he has attracted the attention of some big clubs from across Europe.