An update has emerged on Lille central defender Sven Botman, regarding Newcastle’s interest in his services.
What’s the talk?
According to L’Equipe, via Sport Witness, Newcastle are one of four Premier League sides interested in signing Lille centre-back Sven Botman this summer.
Tottenham, Manchester City and West Ham are the other three sides named, whilst it is said that it would take an offer in the region of £43m (€50m) to tempt the Ligue 1 outfit.
Would Botman be a good signing?
Yes
No
Imagine him and Lascelles
Whilst this may not be the most realistic of targets at this moment in time, there is no harm in Newcastle being ambitious and trying to get a deal done. It would take slightly more than the club-record £39m spent on Joelinton and there appears to be some serious competition for his signature from sides competing in Europe.
Newcastle must do all they can to explore a potential move for the Dutchman as he would be a sensational addition to Steve Bruce’s squad and would elevate the quality of their defence heading into the 2021/22 campaign.
He was a key cog in Lille’s Ligue 1 title success last season as he started 37 of their 38 matches, averaging an eye-catching WhoScored rating of 6.99 in the process.
Jamaal Lascelles, Newcastle’s captain, meanwhile, averaged a score of 6.60 in the Premier League for the Toon Army. This shows how much of a step up Botman would be if the club could piece together a transfer for him and his presence could help improve the Magpies skipper by giving him a great partner to play alongside.
Lille head coach Christophe Galtier once lauded the £19k-per-week beast as a “leader” on the pitch through his performances for the club. He said:
“In football, you have leaders who are vocal, ones who gesticulate and ones who shake the team up… I have a few of those.
“But you also have people who lead by example, through their performances, and it’s true that Sven is emerging as this type of leader.”
So, imagine having two leaders – in Lascelles and Botman – at the back for Newcastle next term. It could lead to Bruce having a water-tight defensive unit and help the club push up the table and aim for the top half, rather than fighting against relegation throughout the campaign. This is why Mike Ashley must push for this to happen. He might be trying to leave but the club need big player acquisitions this summer if he wants to avoid any chance of the Magpies being a Championship team in the near future.
AND in other news, Chronicle drop big update on “tremendous” £38k-p/w gem, Newcastle fans will be buzzing…
