Newcastle United news as major update on transfer target emerges and Unai Emery breaks silence

Here are the latest Newcastle United evening headlines on Tuesday, April 5.

Newcastle United are set to miss out on the signing of Lille centre back Sven Botman this summer as he closes in on a move to AC Milan. That is according to Fabrizio Romano, who claims AC Milan are now in advanced talks and Botman is prepared to accept the Serie A side’s contract proposal.

The Magpies were very keen on signing Botman in the January transfer window but could not tempt Lille into selling midway through the season. Newcastle were looking likely to revisit their interest in the upcoming transfer window, however it appears they have been beaten to his signature by the Rossoneri.

Unai Emery has admitted Newcastle United's 'attractive project' tempted him but decided to stay put in his homeland out of respect to his employers. Newcastle's owners launched a thorough search for a new manager following Steve Bruce's departure last October.

A list of dozens of coaches around the world was narrowed down to just two names: Emery and Eddie Howe. Howe soon emerged as the frontrunner after Newcastle's approach for Emery leaked just hours before Villarreal's crucial Champions League group clash against Young Boys. Emery, unnerved, ultimately turned Newcastle down and the former Arsenal boss has now explained that decision.

“The Newcastle project is an attractive project, something to build, different to Arsenal,” he told the Athletic. "With Arsenal, you first had to knock down the walls, which is hard work, then start to build again. Newcastle no, it was just about building, from the ground up. So it is different, and I liked the idea.

“The Premier League is an attractive league for all us coaches. So when Newcastle called me, I thought a lot