NEWCASTLE AIMING TO GET £31m BOTMAN DEAL OVER LINE

■ NEWCASTLE UNITED were last night hoping for a breakthrough in their protracted talks for Lille defender Sven Botman. The 22-year-old Holland international has been their prime target but they face competition from AC Milan. Lille, however, now want to accept Newcastle’s offer of about £31million. Newcastle’s move for Reims striker Hugo Ekitike remains under threat from PSG, who want to create a greater French identity at the club.

■ BAYERN MUNICH say they are not pursuing Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo amid reports he had been offered to them.

■ CHELSEA have been alerted to Matthijs de Ligt’s contract stand-off with Juventus. The Holland defender is reluctant to agree new terms with his buy-out clause set at a prohibitive £102m. He is open to a Premier League move but Chelsea would offer substantially less than his clause. They want to add five players this summer with centre backs and full backs the priority.

■ WEST HAM asked about Chelsea’s Armando Broja this week but any deal for the striker will be delayed as the Blues look to add another attacking option themselves.

■ LIVERPOOL are poised to earn about £1.75m from Taiwo Awoniyi’s move to Nottingham Forest. The 24-year-old is joining Forest from Union Berlin for £17.5m and former club Liverpool hold a 10 per cent sell-on clause. Goalkeeper Brice Samba is close to leaving the City Ground to join Lens while Forest and Fulham have asked about Everton striker Moise Kean, who has been on loan at Juventus. Fulham hope to finalise midfielder Joao Palhinha’s move from Sporting this weekend.

■ EVERTON defender Jarrad Branthwaite is set to go out on loan next season. The 19-year-old has interest from PSV Eindhoven, Schalke, Middlesbrough, Sheffield United and Sunderland.

■ TOTTENHAM winger Bryan Gil is a target for Marseille and Sampdoria. Spurs are struggling to reach agreement with Middlesbrough over a deal for Djed Spence. Tottenham also made an effort to sign Derby County winger Malcolm Ebiowei, who has agreed to join Crystal Palace. The Selhurst Park club are turning their attentions to sealing a deal for Lens midfielder Cheick Doucoure.

■ MILLWALL are closing on Fortuna Sittard attacking midfielder Zian Flemming, 23, for a club-record £2m.

■ CLUB BRUGES are unlikely to pursue a move for Andy Carroll after talks on Thursday. The Belgian side are understood to have wanted the 33-year-old to take a fitness trial despite the fact he played for West Brom last season.