Four Premier League titles, four League Cups, two FA Cups and an everlasting legacy as one of the club’s all-time greats is what Vincent Kompany achieved at Manchester City. Signed in August 2008 - just 10 days before the champions’ game-changing takeover - Kompany witnessed the transformation of City from top-flight strugglers to European heavyweights during his decade-long stint at Eastlands.
Kompany became captain three years into his tenure and led the Citizens - supplemented by Sheikh Mansour’s billions - to the most successful era in their history. Ironically, he arrived as a 22-year-old - the same age Sven Botman is now.
Newcastle United have been embroiled in a transfer saga for the Dutchman since January, with Amanda Staveley publicly stating his desire to join the Magpies. Newly-crowned Serie A champions AC Milan were front runners for his signature but reports in Italy suggest the seven-time European Cup winners have now pulled out of the race.
Earlier this month, Botman insisted he was “looking forward” to a “new step” in his career amid interest from Newcastle and Milan. A move to Tyneside would offer the centre-back a challenge akin to the one Kompany embarked on in Manchester 14 years ago.
While the North East may not be blessed with the glorious Milan sunshine, the prospect of propelling Newcastle from also-rans to Premier League challengers - and earning a bucketload of cash in the process - would surely appeal to a young, ambitious defender.
Botman has already proven he is a winner, too. Just as Kompany achieved Belgian League success with Anderlecht in 2004 and 2005, the Dutch U21 international achieved the impossible when he dethroned the dominant PSG to clinch a Ligue 1 title last year.
Both players are physically imposing, old-school centre-backs, with Kompany one inch shorter than his counterpart at a pocket-sized 6ft 4in. With Fabian Schar, Dan Burn, Federico Fernandez and Ciaran Clark on the wrong side of 30, Newcastle's backline is in desperate need of an injection of youth and Botman fits the bill.
Kompany’s success resulted in a statue being unveiled outside the Etihad Stadium last summer. If Botman were to join the Saudi-backed revolution and achieve similar success, there will undoubtedly be one erected in his honour outside St James’ Park a decade from now.
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