Newcastle have already made Matt Targett's loan switch from Aston Villa permanent in a £15million deal and plan more spending this summer transfer window.
Newcastle's Saudi owners want to continue the progress of the last five months and will bankroll another big transfer window after splashing around £90million in January. The Toon aim to strengthen all over the pitch, with central defence a priority, and are in negotiations with Lille over their Dutch centre-half Sven Botman.
Newcastle have other defensive targets and are adamant they will not be held to ransom by selling clubs, who know they have one of the biggest transfer budgets in world football. Mirror Sport has the latest transfer news, including updates on Botman and the Toon's interest in an England midfielder.
Botman prefers AC Milan to Newcastle
The Newcastle Chronicle claim Newcastle's top defensive target Sven Botman prefers a move to AC Milan over the Magpies.
The Chronicle claim this could be a theme for Newcastle will they build their reputation internationally as a destination for top players and Botman sees Milan as more enticing because they are Serie A champions and can offer him Champions League football. Newcastle were also interested in Darwin Nunez and their new director of football Dan Ashworth looked at him for Brighton in his last role.
But Newcastle had little chance up against the pulling power of Liverpool and it is clear they will not rebuild their team with world-class players overnight. They have offered £30million for Botman and boss Eddie Howe insists they will not pay over the odds for players.
Newcastle eyeing up Kelly and Ake as Botman alternatives
FootballFanCast carries a tweet from the Telegraph's Luke Edwards who claims Newcastle are prepared to move onto other defensive targets if they cannot land Sven Botman from Lille.
Edwards claims Newcastle transfer guru Dan Ashworth is plotting a £13million offer for Bournemouth's Lloyd Kelly. He also says they like Manchester City centre-half Nathan Ake, who has found game time limited at the Etihad.
Edwards tweeted: "Lille have a decision to make on Sven Botman this week. I agree with the way #nufc have reacted to them driving up asking price. They either accept the £30m bid or Newcastle move on to other targets. Lloyd Kelly and Nathan Ake two others on list. There are others playing abroad."
Newcastle rival West Ham for Ward-Prowse
Caughtoffside columnist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims Newcastle are battling with West Ham to land Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse.
Romano says David Moyes has given up on Kalvin Phillips and turned his attentions to his England team-mate Ward-Prowse. Ward-Prowse is the best deadball specialist in the Premier League and Romano claims the Toon want him.
Romano said: "West Ham have been linked with in the recent past, but I don’t expect them to be serious contenders for him now. Instead, the Hammers are now focused on Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse as an appreciated player for the midfield, but he is not an easy target."
