‘They could be the next Man City or PSG’ — Sven Botman open to “nice project” Newcastle in the summer
Lille centre-back Sven Botman has left the door ajar on a possible future move to Newcastle after the club’s failed attempt to land him in the January transfer window.
The Magpies were linked with plenty of names last month as Eddie Howe looked to bolster his squad in an effort to stave off the threat of Premier League relegation, ultimately spending just shy of £90m in their first transfer window since becoming football’s richest club.
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Marquee acquisitions in the form of Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier have seriously enhanced Newcastle’s prospects of remaining in the division, not to mention to purchases of three players from Premier League clubs in Chris Wood, Dan Burn and Matt Targett, the latter of whom has joined on loan.
However, Howe was thought to be lining up a move for Botman, who has garnered a burgeoning reputation across the continent following Lille’s unexpected Ligue 1 triumph last campaign, forming a near-impenetrable centre-back partnership with stalwart Jose Fonte.
The Tyneside club ultimately failed to land their man, but he has not altogether ruled out the possibility of linking up with the nouveau riche club in the future. He’s labelled their current vision for the future as a “nice project” and name-dropped the likes of PSG and Man City as a reference point for the scope of their ambitions.
Speaking to Ziggo Sport, he said: “Everyone says about Newcastle – it’s all about money. But it’s a very nice project, if you look at where Man City and PSG started.
Highest duel win rate during the 2020/21 Ligue 1 season (100+ contested):
◎ Pape Abou Cissé (72.6%)
◎ José Fonte (69%)
◎ Bruno Ecuele Manga (67.9%)
◉ Sven Botman (67.8%)It looks like Newcastle have missed out on the dominant Dutch centre-back. 😔
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 10, 2022
“I think it would be very nice to be part of that.”
The Dutchman went on to wax lyrical about another side who have been credited with an interest in his signature, branding AC Milan “a beautiful club”, before ultimately saying he is currently relaxed about his future, and a “good step” may be on the horizon in the not too distant future.
He added: “I’m fine at Lille for the time being. I assume that I will take a good step in my career next summer.
“You never know in football. This time both Newcastle and Milan were in very concrete talks. Both clubs have their positive points.”
