Sven Botman has become a household name in the Northeast already this summer, with Newcastle United hot on the heels of the Dutch defender. They are not the only ones eyeing the Lille man, however, with AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain also keen on a deal for the 22-year-old.
Newcastle themselves are said to be in pole position for a move, but officials in Milan are still edging for a deal and are thought to be the player’s preferred destination. PSG, meanwhile, hold just a fleeting interest and are further back in line.
Any move is likely to be complicated, with so many moving parts and people involved from all sides, and the transfer saga is likely to be dragged out. With that in mind, ChronicleLive have outlined all the key players involved in the Magpies pursuit of Sven Botman.
READ MORE: Newcastle United handed potential summer boost amid AC Milan transfer uncertainty
Dan Ashworth
Newcastle’s sporting director has been thrown in at the deep end after officially joining the club at the start of June. Ashworth will be the main point of contact between the club and Lille, negotiating fees and organising everything behind the scenes.
He was in Wales last Sunday to watch Botman as the defender featured for the Netherlands under-21 side in their win over Wales under-21s. And should Lille accept a Newcastle bid, then Ashworth will begin discussions with the player and his agent.
Paolo Maldini
The Milan and Italy legend is Ashworth’s opposite number and, despite his side’s financial inferiority to the Magpies, Maldini remains hopeful that he can land his number one target. Reports have said that Botman made a ‘promise’ to Maldini that he will join the Serie A champions this summer, but they need to match Newcastle’s bid if Lille are to listen.
Tensions are rising at the San Siro after the club look likely to lose out on another Lille player in Renato Sanches, who is looking increasingly likely to move to PSG. Sporting directors Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara still yet to agree to terms on new contracts, and both their deals are set to end in June. Should Milan miss out on both Sanches and Botman, it could lead to them both walking away from the club.
Olivier Letang
The Lille president is fighting for his life at the club after a poor season and failure to qualify for Europe has intensified their financial problems. A lot of the blame has landed on Letang, and that came back again after the departure of manager Jocelyn Gourvennec - managerial candidate Paulo Fonseca is being interviewed by fellow director Alessandro Barnaba.
Letang may be forced to play his trump card with a Botman deal, and that could either help or hinder Newcastle’s hopes. The president will drive up the prices for his two key assets in Botman and Sanches, potentially pushing Newcastle’s £46millon approach up by pitting them against PSG.
Nikkie Bruinenberg
Botman’s agent has been relatively quiet this summer, but will no doubt be working hard behind the scenes to get the best possible deal for his player. He had been pictured in Milan back in February, with reports of progressive talks between him and the club - he also made it fairly clear back then that it remains a two-horse race.
“I’m sure he’ll make the right decision in the summer: Milan and Newcastle are two great teams,” he said previously. “Don’t make the mistake of thinking that Newcastle can only be an economic choice. A good project is being born, but Milan are also a very prestigious club.”
Eddie Howe
The Newcastle manager won’t have a huge role to play in negotiations with Lille - he is currently on holiday anyway and will return for pre-season - but could be a difference maker when it comes down to the player’s personal choice.
AC Milan can offer Champions League football but Howe will have a part to play in convincing Botman that Newcastle will soon be there too. His philosophy and plan will need to convince the Dutchman that Howe is the manager who will get the best out of him.
Sven Botman
Ultimately, once Lille accept a bid from any team it will be up to Botman, with the help of his agent, to decide where to move. The defender is currently on holiday and revealed he is in 'relax mode' after playing for the Dutch under-21s side.
He has already decided that a move away from Lille will happen, and would like to have a decision made by the time pre-season starts.
