Newcastle United are still hoping to lure Sven Botman to the Premier League but, speaking to ESPN, the Lille defender confirms that talks over a move to AC Milan are ‘progressing’.
The smile on Botman’s face, spreading from ear to ear while discussing the prospect of joining the newly-crowned Serie A champions, told it’s own story.
A move to San Siro appeared to have fallen through a couple of weeks ago but the prospect of Champions League football – and the chance to hone his already-considerable talents for a young, exciting Milan side right at the beginning of their journey – appears to have dispelled any lingering doubts on Botman’s part.
Per Milan News, the former Ajax starlet has ‘promised himself’ to the Rossoneri, choosing the European giants over more financially rewarding opportunities at St James’ Park.
Newcastle United target Sven Botman heading to Milan
“We are working on it,” Botman said when asked to provide an update on that long-awaited AC Milan deal.
“It’s difficult for me to get away from things at the moment. I hear something about this situation almost every day. Things are progressing and I hope there will be more clarity before the pre-season training camp starts.”
Botman, one of the key players in Lille’s shock 2020/21 Ligue 1 title-winning campaign, is expected to set Milan back around £25 million. He will earn around £50,000-a-week at the San Siro. Botman is hardly going to be on the breadline, then, but one suspects he could have earned a lot more than £50,000-a-week at Newcastle.
January signings Kieran Trippier and Bruno Guimaraes are both reported to take home in excess of £100,000-a-week at St James’ Park after all.
“We are talking to Origi and it seems to be going well,” Rossoneri director Paolo Maldini confirmed in May.
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