Newcastle will have to smash transfer record for Sven Botman as Lille name their price - Report

Newcastle must fork out €55million to secure their number one target Sven Botman, according to The Telegraph.

Journalist Mike McGrath reports that Lille have named their price for the highly-rated centre-back - who guided Les Dogues to a shock Ligue One title last season.

The piece also claims that two rival Premier League clubs are also keeping tabs on the situation, with Lille determined not to lose their star asset this month.

This means any deal to bring Botman to Tyneside would shatter the club-record £40million fee we gave Hoffenheim for Joelinton in 2019.

A centre-back remains the priority for Amanda Staveley & Co following the arrival of Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood.

Various reports also state that our £28million bid for Sevilla's Diego Carlos remains on the table as our new owners look to shore up the defence.

A hopeless Newcastle backline has already shipped in 42 goals this season - the joint-most in the Premier League - and Botman’s addition would go a long way to rectifying those defensive frailties.