"Would be fun": NUFC handed big boost over major deal "next summer", it'll excite Howe - opinion

Newcastle United have been handed encouragement over a potentially major deal for Sven Botman in the summer…

The Magpies target has admitted that he would be interested in joining the club, whilst also hinting that he will be on his way out of Lille at the end of the campaign.

He told Voetbal International, via TBR: “Newcastle is working on a great project and I thought it would be fun to be a part of it.

“Especially if you look at where Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain once started.”

Fabrizio Romano also quoted him as saying: “I can confirm both Newcastle and AC Milan were concrete options this winter. Both were good options for me. I assume that I will take a good step in my career next summer.”

These comments will surely leave Eddie Howe excited ahead of the next transfer window as they suggest that a transfer could well be on the cards for the 2022/23 campaign.

It could be a major deal for the Magpies as Botman has the potential to be a sensational signing for the club in the short and long term. He is a player who has proven his quality at Ligue 1 level and could be an asset in the Premier League next season, whilst he also has scope for development and could be someone Howe looks to improve over time.

In the French top-flight this term, he has averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 7.15. Botman has won an outstanding 71% of his individual duels throughout the campaign so far, making 4.9 clearances and 2.0 tackles and interceptions per game.

This shows that he already has the ability and consistency required to perform at the top level. Meanwhile, no Newcastle defender has averaged a score higher than 6.77 this term, although Dan Burn managed a rating of 6.96 for Brighton prior to his deadline day switch.