Milan have reportedly reached an agreement with Lille to sign Newcastle United target Sven Botman in the summer.

The Dutch defender had been in talks with both clubs during the January transfer window, but the Serie A giants are believed to have beaten competition for his signature.

Sky Sport Italia reports the Rossoneri are close in on the signing of the Lille defender, while the Northern Echo suggests Milan have already reached an agreement with the defending Ligue 1 champions.

According to the report, Milan will pay circa €33m to secure his signature at the end of the season. Botman’s agents met Milan in February, reaching an agreement over a €2.5m-a-year deal. Botman has recently confirmed that both Milan and Newcastle tried to secure his services during the winter transfer window.

Milan will probably see Alessio Romagnoli leave the club at the end of his contract in June. The Italy international is in advanced talks with Lazio and has also been linked with a move to Juventus.

17 thought on “Milan agree deal to sign Newcastle target Botman”
  1. We don’t need him.

    Kalulu and Tomori have been phenomenal.

    We need attackers. And they’re not cheap. We need a AM, RW and CF.

    We simply can’t waste time and money on the wrong priorities.

  2. I agree in a way but we can’t rely on those 2 and an aging Kjaer either. Then, we won’t spend big so what is most pressing? I would say CM and CF. Saelemakers can do a job at least on the RW. Diaz and Adli will be vying for AM.

  3. So many foreign players who are sub par coming to serie a, will italian football ever learn? Patetic league

  4. @Maldinis heir I agree with money needed elsewhere for other roles however, most teams need 4 CBs when challenging for league titles and Cl participation. With Romagnoli more than likely leaving that would leave us with 3 good quality (omitting Gabbia but no disrespect intended) CBs.

    Botman and Simon would compete the depth to 4 to allow us a fight on all fronts. Good that he has age on his side and comes with CL experience as not long after being Ligue 1 champions last season. We also rid ourselves of our captain’s parasitic agent.

    I trust MMM with their transfer dealings as well as so far track record is looking decent.

  5. Good point Dennis. Not agreeing that Botman is sub par but surely there is a competent and promising Italian def out there needing a break.

  6. Maybe we should change formation to 3-5-2, with Botman, Kalulu and Tomori DF, but where will our wingers Leao, Rebic, Saladmaker and Messisas (it would better not to buy him, ‘cos his average at most) fit in?

  7. To people who say we don’t need him. I disagree, strongly.
    An alternative at half the price and with league experience could’ve been Milenkovic.
    Who is probably just as good too.

    But the reason we need someone like him is because Kalulu’s stats say he is one of the worst in the league in aerial battles. Over time, I expect teams would target that.

    I trust Botman would maintain his value or even increase while here, so it’s not bad business either.

  8. He’s a great player and I’m happy we’re signing him, as any top team need at least 3 top defenders and Romagnoli is not that/he’s leaving, but yes, defense is the one position with the least priority for strengthening considering Kalulu’s exponential growth.

    If Milan fails to sign a top attacking midfielder (top priority) and a top right winger again this summer then one have to question the logic in this deal. Until then, this remains a great coup.

  9. @Milan Fan
    Out of interest, who would you consider to be a top AM for Milan? I can see either Diaz or Adli becoming that in the not too distant.

  10. Botman is a good signing allowing Kalulu to swap between rt and center D. But as it was mentioned above, we need help up front. AM and bulk up the right flank. Leao on the RT isn’t too bad of an experiment for the time being, but we need natural players on that side. not sure what Adli will bring to AM but it needs to be addressed. I would offload Diaz and Messias.

  11. @ِDB Milan

    There are plenty of great players out there who can do the job for us as our attacking midfielder, but I’m not sure who’s going to be available over the summer. Obviously Milan can’t spend huge money on transfers so it’s either gonna be a surplus in his team (the likes of Zyiech, Bernardo Silva, Dybala or at the very least De Paul …. that caliber of player) or a player breaking through in a smaller side (that guy Noa Lang maybe?).

    I don’t know who will come but I’m absolutely sure that Diaz and Adli are not the answer to our problem. Diaz is a weak player who at best is only fit for the bench (at least for now), and I’ve watched Adli a few times, and I believe he’s nowhere near ready to take that position as his own.

    I mean that is arguably the most important position in our setup. I’d go big there.

  12. I’d love to go big too but we have to remember where we are, Ziyech, Dybala and Silva are not in Milan‘s current financial range. That’s Football Manager stuff. Ziyech maybe, if there’s fallout from the Chelski situation, maybe he could leave on the cheap. As for De Paul, he’s got half Diaz’s stats in a season where Diaz has not played well. He doesn’t scream upgrade to me.

  13. I think it’s possible for Milan to acquire big names on a temporary basis with option or obligation and spread the cost “IF” those players are surplus to requirements in their respective clubs. The thing to remember here is the growth decree, where we can probably afford their wages if they come from abroad.

    De Paul is having a tough season, true, but he’s tried and tested in Serie A, no question about it. He has performed season after season for Udinese and last season had 9 goals plus 10 asists. Fantastic stats. Maybe we can get him cheap after his struggles?

    I just can’t take another season of Diaz starting, and the bulk of his stats are from the first 10 games of the season. I’d be OK with him to sit on the bench, as he’s gonna be here for another season and doesn’t cost anything, then we’ll see if he improves (seriously doubt it) but him starting for another whole year? Please no. I’d take anyone over him at this point.

  14. Let’s hope that we will get Tomori and Botman CBs and Kalulu as a RB. Calabria doesn’t seem much energetic recently.

  15. My posts aren’t posting here when I click submit comment so I’ll keep this one short and hope it actually works.

    I’m a big Diaz fan so I’m happy to give him time given the covid circumstances and his loss of form after contracting it. I really think the kid has more levels to go. Maybe the club will go big for the 10 next season but limited funds and players to replace (unless Pioli thinks Gabbia and Pobega are ready to step up) would give me cause to believe money will be spent elsewhere. Maybe I’m wrong, who knows!

  16. I really hope Pobega is given a go, italian players can just be dumped all the time, if so maldini is actually starting to piss me off, the attack needs a makeover, i wouldn’t mind Scamacca or Raspadori to be honest, Berardi is also an option but his miss against North Macedonia… Gabbia gets slagged off way too much he isn’t as bad as people say he is, Cambiaso of genoa should replace Ballo-Toure also #IGiovaniItalianiSonoPronti

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