Light at the end of the tunnel. After six months, countless bids and a will-he-won’t-he transfer saga that dragged on for far longer than anyone would have wanted, Newcastle United are finally set to confirm the signing of Eddie Howe’s number one centre-back target. Better late than never, as they say.
According to the Northern Echo, Botman is flying into Tyneside before undergoing a medical and putting pen to paper on a £30 million transfer.
“(I am) really grateful that I’ve worn the Lille badge for two years,” the former Ajax youngster writes on Instagram, confirming his departure from the 2021 Ligue 1 champions. “It has been an incredible journey with two big trophies and memories I will never forget.
“Merci LOSC!”
But with one left-footed centre-half on his way – at last – what does this mean for another who has been tipped to join Newcastle’s Saudi-funded revolution? Reports from Italy last week claimed that the Magpies were tabling an offer for Alessio Romagnoli; The 12-time Italy international who’s contract at AC Milan expires in a matter of days.
Given that Romagnoli, like Botman, is more comfortable on his left than his right, it’s probably safe to assume that the Rossoneri captain was viewed by Newcastle as an affordable alternative to a man they’ve been chasing with increasing desperation since the turn of the year.
Botman, alongside Dan Burn, will double Newcastle’s tally of left-footed centre-halves. They don’t need a third. But what now for Romagnoli? Well, while one door has closed, a window of opportunity appears to have opened up elsewhere. In West London, to be precise.
Sven Botman to Newcastle and Alessio Romagnoli to Fulham?
According to Tuttomercatoweb, newly-promoted Fulham have offered Romagnoli a £65,000-a-week contract at Craven Cottage. The former Roma ace would arrive on a free transfer. That is despite the fact he captained Milan to the Serie A title just a couple of weeks ago and seems, on paper at least, like an immediate upgrade on Tim Ream; The epitome of a footballer who thrives in the Championship but tends to find the step up challenging.
“He’s a great defender and he’s growing a lot,” former Milan ace Sergino said back in 2019, tipping Romagnoli to follow in the footsteps of two bonafide Rossoneri legends.
“Alessio is young but he can grow to become as good as (Alessandro) Nesta and (Paolo) Maldini.”
At 27, and with Milan happy to let him go on a free, Romagnoli will not be remembered at the San Siro with the same fondness as either Nesta or Maldini. Regardless of the role he played during Milan’s first Scudetto triumph in a decade.
But while Romagnoli may not have become a world-beating central defender, he could be more than enough for a Fulham side desperate to avoid a repeat of 2019 or 2021.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
