Newcastle "trying" to sign £34m-rated "Golden Boy", he's "high up" on the shortlist - journalist

Newcastle are still trying to sign Lille defender Sven Botman, who remains very high up on their list of transfer targets according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

Reports back in the January transfer window suggested that Eddie Howe’s side were very keen on luring the Netherlands international away from Ligue 1, but a deal failed to materialise before the deadline, with the Magpies instead settling with just the one new centre-back signing of Dan Burn.

Now, it’s been claimed the Tyneside club remain very much interested in the 6 foot 5 titan, and the indications are that he features prominently on their shortlist.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, O’Rourke claimed that Botman remains someone who is very much high up on the list of targets at St James’ Park, and that the Magpies are continuing to pursue a move for the centre-back.

He said: “They tried really hard in January to get him but just couldn’t get that deal done. I don’t think the interest has gone away, it’s still a position Eddie Howe wants to improve on this summer and bring in a new centre-back. So if they can land a Sven Botman who has been very high up their list of targets, it would be a great signing for Newcastle.

“There’s fierce competition from the likes of Milan for the Dutchman as well, so it’s going to be a hard one to do, but Newcastle are in there and still trying to do it. They will be hoping to lure him to St James’ Park.”

The £34m-rated star could emerge as the cornerstone of this Newcastle defence alongside Dan Burn next season in the Premier League under Howe, giving the Magpies a centre-back who has experienced European football with Lille but still with plenty of room to grow and develop.

The director of the Dutchman’s agency in Italy, Francesco