I'm not going to shed any tears about not getting a perennial relegation struggler. If he was that awesome he'd have moved years ago.
There's loads of them there's a gut on youtube now that talks about the news #we've received. Seriously it's utter ****e
Newcastle United will focus all their energy and powers of persuasion on their bid to recruit Holland international Sven Botman after completing the permanent signing of Matt Targett on Wednesday. Sources have indicated to Telegraph Sport that Newcastle are close to making a breakthrough in their long pursuit of Botman after weeks of negotiations with French club Lille, as well as stiff and sustained competition from AC Milan. The fight between Newcastle and the newly crowned champions of Italy has not yet been won - and officials in Milan could yet move again to scupper the plan - but there is a growing sense of confidence within St James’ Park that the centre-back will decide to switch from France to Tyneside. Botman is currently on international duty with the Netherlands and has been careful not to give any firm indication about where he will play his football next season. But it now seems increasingly likely the 22-year-old former Ajax Academy prospect will be a Newcastle player next season. The deal is likely to cost around £30m, although Newcastle have been haggling over a structured deal which would see them pay around half of that up front and the rest in staggered installments. This has been a feature of Newcastle’s recruitment approach so far this summer and it has made completing deals complicated. There is a similar sticking point in the deal to sign striker Hugo Ekitike from Reims, with sources insisting Newcastle will not be paying the £25m fee in one lump sum. Newcastle were only paying £12-15m up front in January, a deal agreed with Reims, only for the transfer to collapse on deadline day. Newcastle had even tried to persuade the French club to let the 19-year-old join on loan for a fee of around £5m, with an obligation to buy at the end of next season. Reims, though, have insisted on more money up front and, although the framework of a deal is in place, negotiations over agent fees and a precise payment plan remain a “work in progress.” That was also the phrase used to describe the Botman deal but a “difficult” piece of recruitment has been worked on tirelessly over the last few weeks. It is thought the arrival of the former FA technical director, Dan Ashworth, as Newcastle’s new director of football, from Brighton, will speed things up. Ashworth only started in his new job on Monday morning and his first task was to complete the signing of Targett. The left-back spent a successful loan spell in the North East last season and has now joined permanently from Aston Villa for £15m, although £2m of that was already paid for as part of the initial loan agreement. The 26-year-old has signed a four-year deal and said: "For me, it was an easy decision to make the loan permanent after the welcome I had from my fellow players, the staff, the supporters and the owners so I'm really happy to be here." Newcastle had been assessing alternatives to Targett, including Atletico Madrid’s Renan Lodi, but decided Targett was the safest option.
I'm starting to believe we've won the Botman race. They look like they could only afford one of Botman or Sanchez and have opted for the latter to replace Kessie who looks set for Barca.
Something has changed there seems newcastle are now favourites. It would be a great start targett botman and Ekiteke could be done early. Defeating Milan would be nice
Not you. Just that mad Scot Magdud who seems to believe Ashington is Nirvana. Then again I suppose in comparison to Scotland….
