Milan make last-minute Botman offer as Newcastle transfer looms

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AC Milan will reportedly make a last-minute offer for LOSC Lille defender Sven Botman, with Newcastle United rumoured to be close on signing the Netherlands international.

According to CalcioMercato, the Serie A champions have not given up hope on signing the 22-year-old centre-back despite Eddie Howe’s side taking a storming lead in the race for Botman, with Newcastle reportedly close to completing a deal to sign the Dutch juggernaut in the coming days.

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Valued at £35m, Botman has been one of the best defenders in Ligue 1 over the past two seasons, with Milan and Newcastle both keen on signing the youngster in the January transfer window, though the Italian side looked to have won the tussle for the former Ajax academy star.

However, it now looks like Newcastle will capture Botman’s signature unless Milan’s newest offer is enough to convince Lille to sell their star defender to Italy, with the Rossoneri heading into the summer as Serie A champions for the first time in over a decade.

Indeed, Milan would be the more lucrative option for Botman on paper. However, given Newcastle’s new wealth and their incredible form in 2022, the Premier League side could now be a tempting option for the Lille star despite the pull of instant success and UEFA Champions League football in Italy.

Whilst a new offer is now in the works for Milan, it is still likely that Botman ends up at Newcastle given that the club are eager to add the defender to their ranks and that the Magpies will be able to match any offer the Italians make for the 22-year-old.

Botman should wait for Milan’s offer before deciding on future

It seems almost crazy to suggest that a Premier League side that finished midtable last season could be a more attractive option than one of the most prestigious clubs in all of Europe, yet that’s just where Newcastle find themselves and shows just how great their potential is under the PIF regime.

Whilst Newcastle could become a Manchester City or PSG, Botman should wait to see what Milan’s most recent offer looks like before making a decision on his future, with the Serie A side still an outstanding club to join given all their work in the past few seasons.