Newcastle United are understood to have been given the green light to start negotiating personal terms with Sven Botman and his agent.
The breakthrough in the deal for Botman - who could eventually cost Newcastle €55million - comes after Lille lost patience with AC Milan after giving them all of the closed season to get their bid together with no real sign of progress amid takeover concerns.
Consequently, Lille have ordered Botman and his agent to start proceedings for his sale to Newcastle with the Magpies the highest bidders for his services.
READ MORE: Lille tell Sven Botman to accept Newcastle offer as club push for third signing
Toon sporting director Dan Ashworth has been in dialogue with Lille to get the deal moving after a personal scouting mission to check Botman out during Holland U21s’ 1-0 win over Wales. As Botman comes to the end of his holiday he knows that Newcastle is his best bet for a summer move.
Sources have told us that Botman’s representatives have started the discussions that could end in him moving to St James’ Park after the monster fee was accepted by Lille. A source close to the deal told Chronicle Live said: "It's a deal - or at least between the two clubs. "There's still some things to be agreed on the player's side but the boy is excited at the prospect of playing for Newcastle."
United chiefs have refused to comment on the move tonight but - significantly - they also did not deny the news from Milan this afternoon which confirmed the Serie A champions had been told their time was up on Botman.
Yet Newcastle have never made a secret of their interest in Botman with Amanda Staveley stating their wish to sign him in January. Newcastle must still agree to Botman’s personal terms and in a week that has resulted in issues with Hugo Ekitike’s representative Karl Mwalako, nothing will be take for granted.
Although Botman’s agent is confident that the deal can move forward next week and there are even positive claims of a medical being set up for the centre-back.
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