Sven Botman remains heavily linked with a move to Newcastle United.
The Dutchman is seen as one of the top targets for the Magpies this month, as the club seek to strengthen ahead of the second half of the season.
It has been an awful campaign so far, and Eddie Howe needs several quality additions now.
Kieran Trippier is in, which is good. But Newcastle have a lot of work to do over the next couple of weeks.
The team is crying out for at least two new centre-backs, and Botman is someone who has been linked a lot over the past few weeks. He would certainly be a big improvement in the current options.
Newcastle face a fight for him though, with AC Milan apparently also in the frame.
But one wonders if Botman’s club Lille are going to allow him to depart.
Fabrizio Romano has reported some interesting quotes from Milan’s director of football Frederic Massara. He told Sky: “Sven Botman’s an amazing centre back but I think Lille have no intention to sell him in January.
One wonders whether that could be ominous for Newcastle and their pursuit of the player.
Has Massara cast doubt on Newcastle signing Sven Botman this month?
These are interesting comments from Massara about Botman.
It seems he thinks the Lille aren’t going to do business this month.
But this does not mean that Lille will keep Botman. They just don’t intend to sell.
Ultimately, money talks and Newcastle obviously have huge financial might now following the takeover in October.
They understandably don’t want to lose a key player. But French clubs have been hit hard by the pandemic, and they may be powerless to say no to the right offer.
Newcastle have surely got to make an offer that Lille simply cannot refuse. But only, of course, if the player is actually keen on moving to St. James’ Park.
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