Lille star Sven Botman is planning the next step in his career – and this could be in England or Italy.
Newcastle United and AC Milan are in a transfer duel for central defender Sven Botman from OSC Lille. The Netherlands international has confirmed, according to Algemeen Dagblad, that the heavily wealthy Premier League club and Italian champions have put out feelers to him.
“They are interested,” said Botman when asked about the two clubs. He assumes that he has played his last game for Lille, the 22-year-old continued: “I want to take a step forward in my career and play in a strong league. I can’t wait.”
Sven Botman wants to leave Lille
Botman is under contract at Lille until 2025. A sum of 30 million euros and more is under discussion as a fee for him. In winter, the Guardian reported that Lille would even ask €47m for the defender if he left early.
Newcastle, the richest club in the world since being taken over by a Saudi fund last autumn, and Milan have been linked with a Botman transfer for several months. It remains to be seen how the recently completed takeover of the Rossoneri by the new owner RedBird will affect transfer activities and thus also the courting of the defender.
Botman moved to Lille in 2020 for eight million euros from the Ajax reserve. Since then he has won the French championship and the Supercup with the mastiffs. Last season he played 32 competitive games, scoring three goals and one assist.
