Newcastle United are very keen on a January transfer for Sven Botman, but question if the Lille defender will accept a mid-season move to Tyneside, according to the Daily Mail.
The St James’ Park outfit are working to establish targets for the winter sales to strengthen Eddie Howe’s squad. The Toon boss is eager to improve the defensive options he adopted from former head coach Steve Bruce last month.
Howe is ardent on adding at least a new right-back and centre-half in January, with Kieran Trippier a prime target. He knows the Magpies need leaders to help steer Newcastle away from relegation, and would like to add midfielders and a young striker to the fold, as well.
Newcastle have a number of centre-halves under consideration, including Lille’s Botman, who could answer Howe’s transfer call. The Toon also like Tottenham Hotspur’s Joe Rodon, who has featured in the North East outfit’s discussions on possible targets.
Newcastle insecure Botman will leave Lille in January transfer window
Newcastle are likely to favour loan transfers during the January window, as their relegation fight will see targets second-guess long-term moves and fear Lille’s Botman is one who will.
The Toon are insecure the Dutch defender will accept a switch to St James’ in January, with other clubs keen. His rival suitors are also not in as perilous a position as the Magpies, who sit 19th in the table.
Among the clubs eying Botman include Serie A title-hopefuls AC Milan, who Calciomercato note consider him the ideal target. But their pursuit is most likely to surface next summer.
Botman can be Howe’s new defensive leader
According to Grand Hotel Calciomercato, Newcastle also consider Botman a dream target if they can convince him to leave Lille. Les Dogues will also want €30m-40m (£25.5m-34m).
The Toon’s relegation fight could count against any approach, but Botman may offer Howe the defensive leader he desires. Former Lille boss Christophe Galtier hailed Botman for the leadership qualities he showed at the Stade Pierre Mauroy last season.
“In football, you have leaders who are vocal, ones who gesticulate and ones who shake the team up,” Galtier said, via Ligue1.com. “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.”
Botman’s Lille teammate Jose Fonte, once of Southampton, has also praised Newcastle’s transfer target for what he offers defensively.
“I was surprised when he first arrived,” Fonte told talkSPORT in January. “I wasn’t expecting this level of quality, I was expecting a youngster with potential. But the guy is very composed, he’s mature for his age. He’s a defender, and by that I mean he likes to defend.
“He likes to play simple, he’s strong, he’s tall, he wins his duels, he doesn’t overcomplicate the game [and] he’s good on the ball, left-footed. He’s been doing extremely well.”
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