Dutchman signs long-term deal with United
NEWCASTLE’S PATIENCE PAYS OFF AS BOTMAN NOW IN TOON
NEWCASTLE United have completed the signing of Sven Botman from Ligue 1 side Lille.
The former Ajax youngster has signed a long-term deal with the Magpies and joins after a summer-long saga that saw AC Milan eventually miss out on the talented Holland Under-21 star. He moves to the Premier League after just two years in France.
Botman flew in on Monday to complete the deal after a €55million overall offer by Newcastle was accepted on Friday afternoon. Milan were told it was “time up” after failing to put together an ample fee to secure Botman’s services.
A statement from the club read: “Newcastle United have agreed a deal in principle with LOSC Lille to sign Dutch defender Sven Botman for an undisclosed fee, holding off competition from a host of European sides to secure the highly-rated centre-back.
“Botman has completed his medical on Tyneside and agreed the terms of a five-year contract. The formalities of the transfer are set to be concluded this week, following which the 22-year-old will officially become a Newcastle United player.”
Newcastle United will now step up their search for a goalscorer in the coming weeks after the Magpies secured Botman’s signature.
It remains to be seen if the Dutchman is Newcastle’s most expensive new arrival this summer but after already signing left-back Matt Targett and goalkeeper Nick Pope, the Magpies will look to improve their forward options before the window shuts which has been the aim all summer, of course.
The issues with another long-term target, Hugo Ekitike, have been welldocumented after Newcastle had a bid accepted by Stade de Reims for the highly-rated striker earlier this month only for the deal to be slowed down by the player’s camp.
Ekitike’s agent, Karl Mwalako Buchmann, has wanted to keep his client’s options open, but that feels like an almighty gamble as the Magpies look elsewhere.
As Chroniclelive reported earlier this month, Newcastle have a list of alternatives to turn to if required to help ease the pressure on number nine Callum Wilson. Wilson, after all, was the club’s top scorer last season despite only playing 18 games due to injury.
While that burden was certainly shared around, Allan Saint-maximin, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton were the only other Newcastle players to score at least four times.
Eddie Howe, who is back on Tyneside ahead of the players returning for preseason training on Friday, would ideally like to bring in another striker and a wide forward, too.