Sources have indicated to Telegraph Sport that Newcastle are close to making a breakthrough in their long pursuit of Botman after weeks of negotiations with French club Lille, as well as stiff and sustained competition from AC Milan.
The fight between Newcastle and the newly crowned champions of Italy has not yet been won - and officials in Milan could yet move again to scupper the plan - but there is a growing sense of confidence within St James’ Park that the centre-back will decide to switch from France to Tyneside.
Botman is currently on international duty with the Netherlands and has been careful not to give any firm indication about where he will play his football next season. But it now seems increasingly likely the 22-year-old former Ajax Academy prospect will be a Newcastle player next season.
The deal is likely to cost around £30m, although Newcastle have been haggling over a structured deal which would see them pay around half of that up front and the rest in staggered installments. This has been a feature of Newcastle’s recruitment approach so far this summer and it has made completing deals complicated.
There is a similar sticking point in the deal to sign striker Hugo Ekitike from Reims, with sources insisting Newcastle will not be paying the £25m fee in one lump sum. Newcastle were only paying £12-15m up front in January, a deal agreed with Reims, only for the transfer to collapse on deadline day.
Newcastle had even tried to persuade the French club to let the 19-year-old join on loan for a fee of around £5m, with an obligation to buy at the end of next season.
Reims, though, have insisted on more money up front and, although the framework of a deal is in place, negotiations over agent fees and a precise payment plan remain a “work in progress.”
Villa can get tae fuck