Newcastle United failed in their bid to sign defender Sven Botman in January - but could be back in the running as he eyes a fresh challenge.
The Lille defender was heavily linked with a move to the Premier League that never materialised. But he has now spoken out on his future, confirming that “talks are underway” over a potential exit this summer.
The 22-year-old has endured a fine season for Lille in which he made 32 appearances in all competitions, grabbing one assist and three goals, as his side finished 10th in Ligue 1 and made the UEFA Champions League Last 16. As a result, Botman is a highly wanted man and a summer exit is now on the cards.
When asked by Dutch publication Algemeen Dagblad if he had played his last game for Lille, he said: “I don’t know, but I think so. I intend to take a step. Talks are underway now. I won’t go into all of that, but it’s going well. I do hope that the transfer for the new season is completed. Preferably also for the pre-season, yes.”
Despite Lille winning the Ligue 1 title ahead of Paris Saint-Germain last season, a 10th-placed finish this term means that there will be no European football next season, meaning their hopes of keeping Botman for another campaign are all but diminished as he looks to compete at the highest level by moving onto the next “step”.
As well as interest from the Magpies in January, AC Milan tried to prize the 22-year-old away from France, but they also saw their efforts rebuffed by the Ligue 1 club. However, Botman has now revealed that his future will most likely lie at one of those two clubs in question.
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“Those clubs are interested, yes,” he added. “I can’t and won’t say much more about it. What I want is to take a nice step towards a nice competition. I am also looking forward to a new step. I am aware of what I want – that is not necessarily to that club or that competition. You weigh all kinds of things and then the total picture has to suit you. I must have a very good feeling about it.”
With Newcastle getting ahead of the Serie A club in expressing their interest in Botman and making a move to sign the Dutch international first, it would be expected that the centre back has the Magpies at the forefront of his mind, yet the lure of playing for a huge club like Milan with the promise of European football will be hard to dismiss.
After he was forced to stay at Lille in January, Botman indicated that he wouldn’t be staying in northern France for longer than necessary and hinted that the project at Newcastle appealed to him. The 22-year-old never turned down the move himself, while he also didn’t hold back in expressing his feelings towards both clubs..
Following the January transfer window, Botman said: “I assume that I will take a good step in my career next summer. Everyone says about Newcastle - it's all about money. But it's a very nice project if you look at where Man City and PSG started. I think it would be very nice to be part of that, but Milan is a beautiful club.”
As things stand, Botman looks odds on to depart Lille this summer in order to move onto bigger and better things, especially as the Ligue 1 club have no European football to compete in next season. The Dutchman has revealed his admiration for Newcastle’s project, and a move looks more likely than ever, but the lure of AC Milan still poses a big threat to a deal being completed.
