Claims emerged yesterday that Newcastle had a £30m offer for center-back Sven Botman rejected by Lille. That has been backed up this morning by Fabrizio Romano on Twitter.
Lille turned down €35m permanent move bid for Sven Botman from Newcastle. French club plan still to try to keep Botman even if they're in difficult financial situation. No way for loan deal. ? #transfers
Newcastle will try again – AC Milan are interested but no official bid. pic.twitter.com/huz48eilJI
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 3, 2022
Luke Edwards, with The Telegraph, initially reported that the 21-year-old would not be sold in this window. In his latest report, he suggests that a bid has yet to be made but could test the resolve of Lille. However, it appears that a quick resolution to the pursuit of the Dutchman is unlikely.
Edwards also believes that Newcastle’s budget in January is around £100m, though not set in stone. That seems about right given a deal for Kieran Trippier will cost Newcastle around £25m. Any hopes of landing Botman would take the total spend on the duo well past the £50m mark.
Newcastle’s primary focus is on the backline this month. That is where the bulk of the outlay will be directed. The plan could involve bringing in an entire back-four though Trippier and two center-backs may suffice.
Other targets mentioned are Arsenal’s Rob Holding, Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly, Burnley James Tarkowski, Everton’s Mason Holgate, Liverpool’s Nat Phillips, and Tottenham’s Joe Rodon. It seems Newcastle want to pair a budding superstar in Botman with a player with Premier League experience.
Joelinton’s rise into a box-to-box midfielder has lessened the desperation to add another midfielder in this window. While one is definitely on the agenda, a loan could be the more realistic route.
Edwards names Tottenham’s Harry Winks and Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny as players Newcastle covet. While Winks appears to have a future under Antonio Conte, Elneny may be available for a loan as he’s started just one league match this term.
Another Gunner is reportedly high on Newcastle’s list. Striker Eddie Nketiah has featured prominently in discussions. The 22-year-old is out of contract in the summer and could be an option this month.
Nketiah has basically only featured in The Carabao Cup this season, with an impressive 5 goals in 3 appearances – albeit against lesser competition. He has rejected all offers of an extension at the Emirates.
Callum Wilson’s calf injury has forced Newcastle to look at strikers this month. While loan moves for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Man United striker Anthony Martial have been discussed, they are considered long shots at the moment.
Newcastle are sorting out the backline early in the window. The deals that get completed will have a bearing on targets in other areas of the pitch. If all goes to plan, Newcastle could sign up to six players with four of them being defenders.
32 comments so far
ShaytoStay
Jan 4, 2022 at 10:56 AM
Comment #1Tuttosport: il Newcastle pronto a presentare un’offerta per Insigne – ilNapolista
ShaytoStay
Jan 4, 2022 at 10:56 AM
Comment #2Bidding and getting him are 2 different things
Not another deJong
Jan 4, 2022 at 10:59 AM
Comment #3Chris Waugh@ChrisDHWaugh
Not exactly the big transfer news #NUFC fans are waiting for, but it’s looking increasingly likely that Rodrigo Vilca will join Alianza Lima, champions in his native Peru, on loan.
catchy in norway
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:00 AM
Comment #4lesh
does it really matter where you pass it on through?.
I get running a country is a hard task, and no matter what side you are on, there will always be push back from opposition.
but what this guy did was pure murder, and if he was a general from Serbia he would be locked up for war crimes.
No matter what side you sit on, no what side you sit on, no one wants inocent people to be killed, and 1 million Iraqie people died with millions displaced because of this mans actions, which he went against parliament to do so
niafron
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:01 AM
Comment #5According to report here in France, the problem is not the club, but the player.
He don’t want to leave a club playing the CPL for another one in a relegation battle…
onmeedsun
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:01 AM
Comment #6The main deals should have been worked on in Dec. The window opens in Jan but it doesn’t stop agreements being worked on before then. I just hope they are not leaving it all to this month as they won’t be completed until the end of the month and there are 2 critical matches to be won.
ToonDarnSarf
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:03 AM
Comment #7catchy – Please no politics here. It’s the wrong forum for that. Gets people riled up and can lead to other topics being discussed too. I’m all for a decent political, philosophical or cultural debate but this is not the right forum. Please, let’s keep it to football.
ToonDarnSarf
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:06 AM
Comment #8captainmarvel – some of those clubs might be laden with debt but the overall worth of the clubs and their squads are huge. Barcelona are still a hug club despite their gigantic debt causing problems for them at the moment. I’ve no doubt they will find a way to be back challenging for the title soon.
Adamn_92
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:08 AM
Comment #9Onmeedsun
I’m sure lots of talks and negotiations have taken place with various players throughout December. I imagine it isn’t as easy as we maybe thought to get deals completed simply because we have money now. My guess would be a reluctance from some players/agents due to our current position, lack of European football probably for another year or two realistically, some players maybe wanting to see if another club comes in for them (not a relegation club/a club playing in European Competition) and players/clubs/agents maybe trying to get extra money out of us.
I trust we’ll make the signings we need and in good time and have been working on things well before the window opened. I just think it likely isn’t as easy as we think.
Adamn_92
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:09 AM
Comment #10By ‘relegation club’ I mean given our current position and the chance of relegation.
ToonDarnSarf
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:12 AM
Comment #11Exactly what Adam says. It’s going to be hard to get players and it makes sense for clubs, agents, and players to be exploring all options in order to make the best decision. Don’t be surprised to see them wanting to hold out longer to see if anyone else comes in for them.
Selling clubs are rarely in a rush to sell early in the window unless they need the money to fund buying another player. And as selling clubs are rarely in a rush to sell…
captainmarvel
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:21 AM
Comment #12Perhaps loan deals with the option to buy would be a best option for everyone? That would help clubs who are in debt and help us keep the spending under control..
Obviously they see the Sauds as a piggy bank..
captainmarvel
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:24 AM
Comment #13Keeping the blog to everything footy is working and working extremely well..
webbonufc
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:24 AM
Comment #14None of the names mentioned above fill me with confidence, Tarkowski is the best out of that list. We need a no nonsense get rid of it at all costs centre half. Fernandez is the best we have but he is crocked and didn’t seem in Howes plans when he first came. He come on against someone at half time and commanded the back line
ToonDarnSarf
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:25 AM
Comment #15captainmarvel – That’s probably good for us, the player and the player’s agent but not so good for the selling club. I’m sure they’d rather sting us for the transfer fee while we’re desperate and while many players wouldn’t join us. In the summer (assuming we stay up), there will be more players looking to join us and we won’t be in such a desperate position.
Munster Mag
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:26 AM
Comment #16In fairness, it looks like Luke Edwards was right about Botman’s valuation etc.
John Tudor
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:27 AM
Comment #17Just watching the clock racing down still don’t have the first one over the line
ToonDarnSarf
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:27 AM
Comment #18webbonufc – I highly doubt that Burnley will let Tarkowski go in January. They have their own relegation battle to fight so it really doesn’t make sense. Unless he forces a move through and threatens to down tools, but then I’m really not sure I want a player who leaves a relegation threatened club halfway through the season…
It’s going to be a tough window the the negotiators are going to have to do a good job to get 4-6 quality signings in. I have faith but don’t be deceived regarding how tough that job actually is in this window.
Munster Mag
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:29 AM
Comment #19What a sh1tstorm the club is in. Money and plenty of it available, but January is the hardest time to buy, and we have holes all over the place, including striker, the hardest type of player to buy . That guy from Celtic will have his work cut out. I presume he is the one who does all the contact work with the selling club? Who approaches the players agent initially – I assume the same guy?
WLtoon
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:30 AM
Comment #20Pains me to say it but i would forget about Botman, i don`t think he fancies a scrap at the bottom of the PL.
Il`e eat my hat if he joins us ahead of say a West Ham who are fighting for a European slot.
I won`t lose any sleep over any player who is having second thoughts about joining us, i want fully committed players are willing to give sweat blood and tears for the cause.
I am not sure if he is even that good after watching him, turns as quick as an artic, not a full Dutch international yet, even at 21 , as the saying goes, if you are good enough you are old enough.
He is a big unit with potential ile give you that but ……. Hmmm, i`m not sure.
ToonDarnSarf
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:32 AM
Comment #21Munster Mag – the plan only has to be to stay up this season mate. Have faith. 17th will be fine in the scheme of things, we’re not going to pull up any trees this season and qualify for Europe.
Raj of Hailsley
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:33 AM
Comment #22WLtoon,
Did you get Neil’s e mail
scott
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:34 AM
Comment #2312m plus add one is the offer for Trippier apparently
WLtoon
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:34 AM
Comment #24Jail,
What email?
kilcline
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:34 AM
Comment #25Momentum and feel good factor is going to be key in attracting the players we want that can keep us up.
Once Trippier is done, important to move quick on another big name/hitter that will make others more comfortable to join us.
Im sure the TV coverage of the United game will go in our favour too.
scott
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:35 AM
Comment #26*add ons
Not another deJong
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:37 AM
Comment #27GUARDIAN – January window finally here for Newcastle
Whenever Newcastle return to action, the expectation is Eddie Howe will be able to pick from a far fuller deck, with Covid isolation periods ending, the injury list easing and a first tranche of Saudi Arabian loot spent on new players. The names linked most closely are not quite of the Kylian Mbappé and Neymar level just yet, but someone as accomplished and experienced as Kieran Tripper would add quality to their defence. Eddie Howe’s working relationship with the England full-back from their time at Burnley a decade ago may facilitate that deal but other transfers may be harder to pull off. Convincing players to join a team second-bottom of the league and with one win all season will take serious cash and powers of persuasion. The suspicion is Newcastle’s back office, with no director of football or chief executive yet appointed, lacks the expertise and contacts to bring in the players who might guarantee survival. JB
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Expensive experienced and injury prone older players looks like the more likely root for transfers in this window. Players that will be confident about battling their way out of relegation, pitting themselves against the best in the PL and putting themselves in the shop window if all else fails.
WLtoon
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:38 AM
Comment #28scott,
where did you read that? It`s a million miles away from the 25-30M quoted as the price that Madrid want for him
kilcline
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:40 AM
Comment #29Trippier missed training today, on his way somewhere.
He will be a great signing for us, over lapping full backs who press are a key ingredient in todays football, City and Liverpool have the best in the league and it helps them dominate.
JP...from The Rock
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:43 AM
Comment #30Really surprised we haven’t got a DoF in place for this crucial window. I seriously hope the new owners know what they’re doing and know how difficult transfer windows can be and have everything planned incase of any setback. We can’t afford another Emery scenario regarding targets especially with all these important games against the teams around us coming thick and fast.
John Tudor
Jan 4, 2022 at 11:47 AM
Comment #31Full steam backwards do they fully understand the urgency is Ashley still pulling the strings
Ashingtoon62
Jan 4, 2022 at 12:05 PM
Comment #32Is Charnley still at the club?
Apparently we offered £10m at the weekend and upped it to £12m.
His contract runs out in the summer,on SSN now..
Just saw mine Jail thumbs up thingy..