Newcastle United look to set to have another challenger in the pursuit to sign Lille defender Sven Botman this summer.
The Evening Standard are reporting that West Ham United are tracking the Netherlands international as David Moyes plans to overhaul his squad in the summer.
The 22-year-old matches the profile of a left-sided centre-back that Moyes feels is needed to bolster his Hammers side.
After beating Paris Saint Germain to the Ligue 1 title last year, Lille have endured a difficult campaign and are currently six points off the Champions League qualification places.
As has so often been the case at the French side, they nurture young talent before cashing in and making a huge profit on their key players.
Botman looks set to be the latest Lille star sold for big money and end his two-year stay at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy after being signed from Ajax.
Alongside West Ham, Newcastle are set to face significant competition from Tottenham and AC Milan to secure his signature this summer.
Botman has been one of Newcastle’s top reported targets since the lucrative takeover was completed.
The Magpies were keen to bring the nine-time Netherlands international to Tyneside in the January transfer window but Lille weren’t willing to lose Botman mid-season.
Newcastle co-owner Amanda Staveley recently told the Athletic that Botman was desperate to sign for the Magpies, saying: “We had to encourage players – ‘we’ll be a safe place for you, we’ll deliver and grow’.
“Some desperately wanted to come to us, like Sven (Botman), who still does very much and has talked very openly about that.
“We did everything. We never stopped. From the start to the finish, we did not stop working.”
Unlike Newcastle, the other three sides in the running for Botman are likely to be able to offer European football next season.
But PIF will believe that the lure of Newcastle United’s ambitious project and joining the richest club will be enough to convince Sven Botman that St James’ Park is still the best move for him, despite West Ham’s emerging interest.
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