Newcastle United could have moved a step closer to signing Sven Botman after fresh reports in both Italy and France that AC Milan are now unable to meet Lille's asking price.
Chronicle Live reported earlier how Newcastle, having completed the move for goalkeeper Nick Pope from Burnley, had switched attention to Botman and Hugo Ekitike of Reims. And reports in Milan - via Sport Italia - are suggesting that Lille's pressure on Botman to accept the lucrative package on offer from the Magpies have "paid off" and that the player could be "one step away" from signing for Newcastle.
Newcastle have maintained a dignified silence on the matter throughout the course of the transfer talks. But the talk in Italy is now that Milan have been unable to meet the €45million asking price for the Dutch centre-back.