Newcastle have become the Duracell Bunnies of the transfer market. They are prepared to run further, last longer, and be more passionately persistent than virtually all competitors in pursuit of their targets.
The big money signing of Sven Botman after a seven-month slog to prise him from under the nose of Italian giants AC Milan will bring the signings of United's new owners to eight and counting as they accelerate the rebuilding of a historic club. Botman is set to join Nick Pope in the SJP stables with patience indeed being a virtue in what became a marathon in comparison to the sprint for Pope.
More hurdles have been overcome than there are at Aintree but now at long, long last it seems Botman is about to undergo a medical and put ink to the paper. Of course United's new owners are the masters of patience.
