According to reports, AC Milan have ‘overcome Newcastle United’ to reach an agreement with Lille for the signing of Sven Botman.
Lille paid around €9m to sign him in 2020 from Dutch giants Ajax. Botman established himself straight away in France as he played 47 times in 2020/21.
The defender shone last term as Lille lifted the Ligue 1 title. They have dropped off this term as they currently sit eighth in the table.
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Botman has still performed well domestically and in the Champions League. He has now played 72 times for Lille across all competitions.
His performances attracted the attention of Newcastle and AC Milan in January.
The centre-back ended up staying with Lille but he is likely to leave this summer.
Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness) are reporting that AC Milan have ‘overcome Newcastle’ to sign Botman.
They are said to have ‘reached an agreement’ with the player. Botman has settled on a five-year deal that is worth €3.5m-a-season.
Lille will ask for around €40m this summer and Newcastle have ‘great means’. AC Milan now need to agree a fee before the signing is completed.
Elsewhere, Newcastle are reportedly ‘above all’ in the race to sign Victor Osimhen from Napoli and are ‘ready to go crazy’ to beat their competition.
Osimhen has scored 21 goals in 52 appearances for the Serie A side having joined in a £67.5m deal from Lille in the summer of 2020.
Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla claims Napoli are preparing for life without the 23-year-old, with the Serie A side bracing themselves for summer offers from various suitors, including Manchester United.
He said: “It’s true. Napoli have enquired about Gianluca Scamacca, and according to our reconstructions, it would be an attempt linked to a possible pharaonic proposal for Victor Osimhen next summer. The proposal could be that of Manchester United.
“The voices of recent days are coupled with what his brother declared some time ago when he spoke of a courtship from the Red Devils, returned to sender because there was another Nigerian there at the time (Odion Ighalo) and Osimhen didn’t want to compete.”
But NapoliCalcio (via Sport Witness) claim Newcastle are ‘ready to go crazy’ to buy the striker, while Il Mattino put the Magpies ‘above all’ in the race for his signature.