Sven Botman transfer latest: Newcastle ready to walk away from deal after £6m price rise

Newcastle United are preparing a “take it or leave it” offer for centre-back Sven Botman after Lille reportedly upped their asking price.

The Magpies were hot on the heels of Botman in January. Eddie Howe was desperate to get the 22-year-old to the club, but Lille’s asking price eventually hit £46m. That proved too much for Newcastle, who eventually spent £13m on Brighton’s Dan Burn.

That proved to be an inspired piece of business as Burn played 16 times and helped the Magpies into a healthy 11th-placed finish.

With the threat of relegation a distant memory, Howe remains keen on adding to his rearguard and Botman is again top of his wanted list.

Newcastle are understood to have had a £30m bid for the player initially accepted by Lille.

However, The Telegraph now report that the French side have reneged on that agreement and now want £36m for Botman.

It’s a situation which is understood to have frustrated Newcastle officials. The club are unhappy at having to pay a “Newcastle tax” on potential deals due to their wealthy ownership.

It was a similar story in the January window and the United sporting director Dan Ashworth is ready to play hardball.

He was in the stands to watch Botman in action for Holland Under-21s on Saturday.

Botman was replaced at half-time in Holland’s 1-0 win.

Sven Botman intentions 

The report claims Ashworth is ready to walk away from a deal for the defender. The club are ready to pull out and look at alternative targets if Lille reject their final offer.

To make matters more complicated Botman will jet off on holiday after signing off from Holland Under-21 duty.

Sky Italia also claim that AC Milan remain in the running for Botman and of course they can offer Champions League football.

While TuttoMercatoWeb editor-in-chief Andrea Losapio says the centre-back “has no intention of going to” St James’ Park.

Instead the highly-rated Botman is struggling to get on board with the Newcastle project. Instead he favours a move to the San Siro, as per the reports from Italy.

It means that Ashworth faces a huge task to get a deal done for the player.

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