Journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed that Newcastle United defender Sven Botman will take time to adapt to English football and is a ‘signing for the future’.
Over the summer, the Magpies spent a lot of money, reportedly paying around £35m to sign the 22-year-old centre-back from Lille on a five-year contract.
Since then, however, while he has been trusted to start some Premier League games, Botman hasn’t necessarily cemented his place in the team having been left on the bench in recent games against Bournemouth and Liverpool.
Still, while speaking about the player to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke called for patience on the Dutchman and made clear that it would take time for Newcastle to get the very best out of their man.
He said: “I think it’s hard to get into that team because their defensive record has been pretty good so far this season, keeping lots of clean sheets. So I think, like most summer signings, it’s going to take time for him to adapt to the new league, the new club, the new manager and what they want.
“Sven Botman is very much a signing for the future as well for Newcastle. He’s at a young age and I’m sure he will only get better, but he’ll be hoping that he can impress Eddie Howe and get back into that team as soon as possible.”
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TIF Thoughts on Sven Botman and Newcastle United…
In the Premier League so far, after making his debut in a one-minute cameo off the bench during the opening game of the season, Botman has started four games, playing in five of a possible seven (via Transfermarkt).
Worryingly for him, the club have not won any of the games he’s started in, but they’ve not lost them either. Indeed, the Magpies have drawn all four, conceding four goals and keeping two clean sheets in that time.
With that in mind, it would be unfair to say Botman has been poor and the defence has struggled with him, as this clearly isn’t the case. Even so, it seems as though Howe is still easing him into the team and isn’t quite ready to play him in every match.
Still, at just 22 years of age, the centre-back certainly does have plenty of time to adjust to life in England and there should be plenty of reason to be optimistic about his future with the club.