Lille President Olivier Letang put the final nail in the coffin of Milan and Newcastle United hopes for Sven Botman in January. ‘We won’t even discuss it.’
The defender had become the first choice as a mid-season reinforcement for the Serie A club after Simon Kjaer’s serious knee injury.
They faced stiff competition from Premier League outfit Newcastle and the €30m asking price was considered too steep.
However, the situation is now off the table entirely, as confirmed by President Letang during a press conference to present new buy Hatem Ben Arfa.
“I have already said my piece on Sven by declaring we want to keep our best players,” said Letang.
“We won’t even open the door to discuss it. We want to keep him.”
Botman turned 22 last week and has been called up for international duty by the Netherlands, although he is yet to receive his first cap at senior level.
Lille signed him from Ajax’s youth academy in 2020 for €8m.
Although a centre-back, he has an eye for goal, scoring two and assisting one in 18 competitive games this season.
Botman, il presidente del Lille: “Non abbiamo dato aperture a trattative perché vogliamo tenere i migliori giocatori con noi” https://t.co/WHrmt9Bi72
— MilanNews.it (@MilanNewsit) January 19, 2022
If £ 50 million is being came that’s a worth to cash then train up a new one that is benefited the club as under worst economy at this moment. Cash is king is externally !