Sven Botman has been one of Newcastle’s top reported targets since the takeover was completed.
Newcastle pushed hard to get him in to bolster their backline during the January window but were ultimately unable to get Lille to sell mid-season.
That saw them go for Dan Burn, while Botman recently impressed in the Champions League against Chelsea, despite the Ligue 1 side going down 2-0.
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.”
But reports in Italy claim that Botman has verbally agreed a five-year deal with AC Milan ahead of a summer move to the San Siro.
Gazzetta Dello Sport claim that Newcastle must finally accept defeat in the chase for the promising Dutchman.
That said, a fee has not yet been agreed between the two clubs but Botman wants to go to Italy and is pushing for the Milan move.
Newcastle’s attempts to sign him did not have the desired effect and after his entourage met Milan last month, Botman has apparently decided to go there instead of Tyneside.
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