Newcastle United ‘yet to agree a price’ with Ligue 1 side for key target – clubs ‘in talks’
Newcastle United are reportedly ‘yet to agree a price’ with Ligue 1 side Lille for their Dutch defender Sven Botman.
The 22-year-old has been an ever-present for Lille over the past two seasons. He has played 79 times for them across all competitions.
Botman helped the French side win the Ligue 1 title in 2020/21 and he was heavily linked with Newcastle United during the January transfer window.
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They were not able to get the deal over the line though and AC Milan are also interested in signing him.
BBC Sport are reporting that Newcastle remain ‘in talks’ with Lille over the signing.
It is noted that the Magpies are ‘yet to agree a price’ for the defender after bidding £30m for Botman in January.
The report also notes that Newcastle ‘are hoping to sign’ Reims striker Hugo Ekitike.
Elsewhere, according to reports, Newcastle United are contemplating making a double bid to sign Inter Milan duo Hakan Calhanoglu and Denzel Dumfries.
It is the first summer transfer window for the Magpies since they were taken over by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
They have been heavily linked with Lille centre-half Sven Botman as well as Stade Reims forward Hugo Ekitike.
While the Ligue 1 pair are Newcastle’s top targets this summer, they are unsurprisingly linked with a high number of players.
And Italian outlet Calciomercato have claimed that the Geordies are interested in Inter Milan’s Calhanoglu and Dumfries.
It is believed that Newcastle will have to fork out £51m for the duo. Dumfries has been linked with Manchester United, who are reportedly looking to offload fellow right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Should Inter let the Turkish midfielder and versatile Dutch defender leave, they may be able to hold onto Milan Skriniar, Alessandro Bastoni, Nicolo Barella and Lautaro Martinez.
Dumfries impressed for the Netherlands at Euro 2020 and earned himself a move to Inter from PSV after the tournament.
The 26-year-old had a solid debut season in Italy; operating on the right of a back-five he scored five goals and provided seven assists in 45 matches across all competitions for the Serie A runners-up.