On Thursday, we covered multiple claims from Italy that stated Lille would prefer to sell Sven Botman to Newcastle United over AC Milan.
It was also reported the Serie A side have made a proposal worth €32-33m including bonuses, and this is short of the €40m fee requested by the French club.
There have been more claims in Italy stating that the Serie A winners will now find it complicated to sign the 22-year-old this summer, because of Newcastle.
In the last few hours, the Tyneside club have been pushing hard to try to close the deal for the centre-back.
That’s according to Sky Italia, who state Milan are in constant contact with the player’s agent. However, they find Lille’s demands exaggerated and that complicates the deal.
With Eddie Howe’s side ready to make an approach, it could prove decisive for them to get ahead of Milan in the transfer race.
Milan, for their part, have no intention of improving their offer to make the Ligue 1 side’s president, Olivier Létang, happy. There is ‘less optimism’ at the San Siro over a deal for the Lille star, especially since the Magpies are ready to make a lunge for him.
Both Sky and Calciomercato add that with Newcastle pushing hard to sign Botman, Milan have identified Torino’s Gleison Bremer as his alternative.
Over at TuttoMercatoWeb, they explain Howe’s side have reached an agreement with Lille for the defender’s transfer.
Newcastle have tabled a €41m bid, out of which €17m will be paid initially, while the remaining fee will be paid over the next four years.
Botman has been offered a five-year deal, but he isn’t convinced of making a switch to St James’ Park. The player may have to accept to join Newcastle if Milan don’t meet Lille’s demands to carry out the transfer.
