Transfer insider Dean Jones has dropped a major Sven Botman update to Give Me Sport, delivering a blow to Newcastle’s hopes of landing the towering centre-back.

The Lowdown: Botman bids

According to The Athletic, Botman was the Magpies’ primary target to improve the heart of their defence in January and PIF even made two bids.

Of course, nothing came to fruition, with local lad Dan Burn the only centre-back addition made by the new owners last month.

All three of Newcastle, Tottenham and Milan apparently want to make another move in the summer, but Fabrizio Romano believes the latter side are leading the pack, having already made contact with the player’s agents.

Jones has now added his own update to the mix.

The Latest: Jones' update

The ‘transfer insider’ told GMS that the Magpies will have a ‘problem’ luring players to Tyneside over clubs like Milan.

“This is the problem you’ve got with Newcastle,” he said.

“On one side, you can attract players with your exciting project. On the other hand, you haven’t got that pedigree and heritage that might bring other players in, and I think from what I’m told, Sven Botman is very much won over by the idea of playing for AC Milan and everything that it encapsulates.”

The Verdict: Get used to it?

This would certainly be damaging for the future aspirations of the new owners at St. James’ Park, but you can’t exactly blame Botman for preferring to join a side who have been crowned kings of Europe on seven occasions, especially when the Serie A outfit are already buttering him up.

Indeed, Milan director Frederic Massara has publicly stated Botman is an “amazing centre back" (Romano) while club legend Paolo Maldini has said the Netherlands star is a “great player” (Football Oranje).

Magpies fans may have to get used to the odd rejection in the coming months and years if the owners are going to keep pursuing such highly rated talents, but hopefully they will be the ones tempting players in with the “pedigree and heritage” Jones alludes to before too long.

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