Newcastle's transfer plan after Sven Botman announcement as Hugo Ekitike takes huge gamble

Newcastle United will step up their search for firepower in the coming weeks after the Magpies announced they had agreed a deal in principle for Lille defender Sven Botman.

Botman completed his medical at the club's training ground on Monday after signing a five-year deal with Newcastle. The Dutchman then got a chance to take a brief look around St James' Park later that evening while carrying out his in-house media duties.

Supporters eagerly awaited a shot of Botman in black-and-white stripes and the club confirmed on Tuesday night that a deal was in place as they released his first unveiling photograph. The formalities of the transfer will be concluded this week before Botman, officially, becomes a Newcastle player.

It remains to be seen if Botman is Newcastle's most expensive new arrival this summer but after already signing left-back Matt Targett and goalkeeper Nick Pope, the Magpies will look to improve their forward options before the window shuts - which has been the aim all summer, of course.

The issues with another long-term target, Hugo Ekitike, have been well-documented after Newcastle had a bid accepted by Stade de Reims for the highly-rated striker earlier this month only for the deal to be slowed down by the player's camp. Ekitike's agent, Karl Mwalako Buchmann, has wanted to keep his client's options open but that feels like an almighty gamble as the Magpies look elsewhere.

As ChronicleLive reported earlier this month, Newcastle have a list of alternatives to turn to if required to help ease the pressure on number nine Callum Wilson. Wilson, after all, was the club's top scorer last season despite only playing 18 games due to injury. While that burden was certainly shared around, Allan Saint-Maximin, Bruno