Newcastle: Ashworth can make 'hell of a start' with £34m star at St James' Park

Newcastle United’s new sporting director Dan Ashworth could make an excellent first impression if he can tempt Sven Botman to St James’ Park, claims transfer insider Dean Jones.

Ashworth has now officially started his role at the North-East club after joining from Brighton, and he looks to be getting straight to work.

Newcastle have been interested in signing Botman since January, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirming that the Magpies had three bids turned down at the start of the year as the centre-back opted to stay at Lille for the rest of the season.

However, Romano has now revealed that Newcastle still want to sign Botman, and he is their “main target”, although they face competition for his signature from AC Milan.

The Times recently reported that Ashworth is trying to convince Botman to choose Newcastle over Milan this summer.

Botman could become Newcastle’s second signing of the summer, as they are closing in on landing Matt Targett permanently after he underwent his medical on Wednesday.

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Jones thinks it would be huge for Newcastle if they land Botman, and he has suggested that Ashworth would immediately go into the fans’ good books if he can get a deal over the line.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “It’d be a hell of a start to the job if he can convince Botman to turn down the Serie A champions to join Newcastle. That’s what he’s been brought in for. That’s the level of ambition they want him to show, the level of persuasion they want him to have over players. It’d be a real coup if he could do that.”

At just 22, Botman is widely considered one of the most promising central defenders in Europe right now, which is why Milan are also keen