Newcastle United transfer rumours as breakthrough in Sven Botman pursuit 'close'

Here are the latest Newcastle United transfer rumours on Thursday, Thursday 9.

After the permanent signing of Matt Targett was announced yesterday afternoon, attention at St James’ Park has already turned towards the next items of business. With the move for Hugo Ekitike making progress, a central defender will be the next priority for the Magpies.

Sven Botman is a man who has been on the wishlist on Tyneside for several months now and, according to The Telegraph, United are on the verge of making a key breakthrough in the pursuit of the Dutchman. There is said to be a growing sense among those at the club that Botman will be the next to join the club, although the competition from Italian champions AC Milan remains an issue.

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There has been no secret made of Newcastle’s pursuit of a forward this summer to provide competition for Callum Wilson and Chris Wood at St James’ Park. Darwin Nunez was one of the players being heavily linked with a big-money move to United but they seem to have turned their attention away from the Benfica striker.

It now looks as though the young forward could be on the move to Liverpool as they have launched their first offer, understood to total €100m, according to Fabrizio Romano. Offers with the potential of totalling almost nine figures for Nunez make it clear to see why Newcastle felt they were better served looking elsewhere.

Combined with the wages the Uruguayan will earn, it is a deal that far outweighs what United will be looking to spend this summer.

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Another player who was linked with a move to the north east was James Tarkowski who is available