According to ESPN, Lille do not want to sell Sven Botman in the January transfer window, amid reported interest from Liverpool.
FootMercato reported in December 2020 that Liverpool first made contract for the 21-year-old defender in November (click here to read more).
Well-known journalist Duncan Castles claimed last month on The Transfer Window Podcast that the Reds have opened talks with Botman’s agent.
ESPN has now reported that Lille are ‘desperate’ to keep Botman beyond the January transfer window.
The report has added that if the defender does become available, then he is likely to cost around £40 million.
One for the future
Botman is only 21 years of age, and although he is progressing and developing well at Lille, he is one for the future.
True, Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are injured at the moment, but once they are back to full fitness, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp could have too many centre-backs if he signs Botman this month.
Perhaps the Merseyside club should wait until the summer of 2021 before making a decision on whether or not to sign Botman.
Meanwhile, according to Flazoeiro, Liverpool have made an approach for Flamengo youngster Daniel Cabral, but so have Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United. A total of 17 clubs are reported to be interested in the midfielder.
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