Newcastle United signed a superstar when they brought in Sven Botman during the summer.
They tried to get him in January, but couldn’t agree a price with Lille. But the Magpies returned at the end of the season, and fended off interest from AC Milan to secure the Dutchman’s services.
He became one of Newcastle’s most expensive signings ever at £35million, but he is already proving to be well worth every penny.
The Dutchman has been outstanding since settling into Eddie Howe’s starting XI, and produced one of his best displays in the Carabao Cup win over Bournemouth.
Botman received big praise from Howe for his performance, who believed that the 22-year-old was ‘excellent‘. He played a big part in ensuring Newcastle made it through to the quarter finals of the competition, as his bright start to life on Tyneside continues.
He is yet to taste defeat as a Toon player. He has made 16 appearances so far, and has never ended up on the losing side. In the only game that Newcastle have lost this season, Botman was not involved.
The former Ajax man is proving to be a star of the present and the future, and is showing other Premier League clubs that they missed a trick when they decided not to sign him.
Other clubs had concerns over Botman
According to journalist Ben Jacobs, there were other Premier League clubs looking at him during the summer. However, he has stated that they had numerous concerns about his suitability – which is why Newcastle were the only English club chasing him.
“There was that feeling from sources and other clubs looking at him that, at Premier League pace, he might get pulled out of position a little bit and the maturity would take some time to develop,” Jacobs told NUFC Matters on YouTube.
Those clubs who looked at Botman must be scratching their heads right now. They made a real mistake in letting him head to Newcastle.
He hasn’t been pulled out of position, and he has shown a maturity beyond his age.
Botman’s style just oozes class. He is elegant in possession with a ball at his feet, capable of breaking the lines and starting attacks from deep. And he reads the game brilliantly too, meaning he is never pulled out of position unnecessarily. If he ever goes wandering, you know he is going to win the ball.
Powerful in the air, strong in possession, confident in his ability. Newcastle have got a star in Botman, and someone who is going to be at St James’ Park for a very long time.
Eddie Howe has got himself a defensive machine, while Premier League rivals will be wondering how they got this one so wrong.
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