Newcastle United are hoping to reach the final stages of a deal for Lille defender Sven Botman this week, according to Scott Wilson for The Northern Echo.

The lowdown

The Magpies have agreed a fee to sign the 22-year-old centre-back, who is their 'number one defensive target'. They will pay an initial £30m, but that price could rise 'significantly' if various add-ons are triggered over the course of his stay at St James' Park.

Botman should now be available to undergo a medical after the Netherlands under-21s completed their June fixture programme.

The latest

Sharing his report from The Northern Echo on Twitter, Wilson wrote: "#NUFC hoping to reach end game with Sven Botman deal this week after defender signs off from international duty. Looks like they’ve beaten off competition from AC Milan. Suggestions of PSG interest noted - but not regarded as a concern…"

He did state in his article, though, that an approach from Ligue 1 champions PSG could potentially 'complicate' matters. As such, Newcastle are 'keen' to drive things forward in the coming days and win the race for the 22-year-old's signature once and for all.

Magpies director of football Dan Ashworth is leading negotiations after watching Botman first-hand on Saturday.

The verdict

This would be a long-awaited triumph for Newcastle after they saw multiple offers rejected by Lille in the January transfer window.

It's a deal which is sure to excite fans, based on remarks from journalist Aaron Stokes earlier this month. He said: "If they could get Botman in over AC Milan what a statement it would be for the rest of the window."

Indeed, Milan are the newly-crowned champions of Italy, and yet they may be pipped by a Newcastle side who finished 11th in the Premier League.

Stokes added that, according to 'people in France', Botman could go on to become 'one of the best' centre-backs in the world, while the director at his agency has marvelled at his 'extraordinary courage' on the pitch.

It would be a signing for the present and the long-term at St James' Park, and Wilson's update suggests that Newcastle fans might not have to wait much longer to see the defender in black and white stripes.

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