Lille tell Sven Botman to accept Newcastle United offer as Dan Ashworth pushes for third summer signing

Newcastle United could have moved a step closer to signing Sven Botman after fresh reports in both Italy and France that AC Milan are now unable to meet Lille's asking price.

Chronicle Live reported earlier how Newcastle, having completed the move for goalkeeper Nick Pope from Burnley, had switched attention to Botman and Hugo Ekitike of Reims. And reports in Milan - via Sport Italia - are suggesting that Lille's pressure on Botman to accept the lucrative package on offer from the Magpies have "paid off" and that the player could be "one step away" from signing for Newcastle.

Newcastle have maintained a dignified silence on the matter throughout the course of the transfer talks. But the talk in Italy is now that Milan have been unable to meet the €45million asking price for the Dutch centre-back.

With the Rossoneri making slow progress on transfers after a takeover and a failure to tie down directors Paolo Maldini and Frederic Massara to new contracts it hasn't helped their prediciment. Botman has given Milan the whole of the close season so far to get a deal done but they have so far been unable to deliver.

Newcastle's new owners have wanted Botman since January with Amanda Staveley eager to bring the defender to Tyneside. If Milan are genuinely out of the race, it would be a summer signing that would be celebrated by fans at St James' Park.

United chiefs would not comment on the new round of reports in both France and Italy.