Four players ‘under consideration’ for new Newcastle United transfer chief

Some familiar names continue to be linked with a summer move to Tyneside as the Magpies look to take the next steps in their development.

Botman rivals emerge

Lille president Olivier Letang believes Dutch defender Sven Botman will be a man in demand this summer.

Newcastle identified the centre-back as their main defensive target for the January transfer window - but saw three bids rejected by the Ligue 1 club.

They are said to reignite their interest this summer but will face competition from the likes of Spurs, AC Milan and Juventus, according to The Athletic.

Meanwhile, Letang has told Le Parisien: “We had no obligation to sell in January.

“We had two auditions with the regulatory body, and they went well.

“He had the chance to depart last summer, but I stopped him and told him we would rediscuss it at the end of the season.

“He is a great person and a top player, and he deserves to join a team that can win the Champions League.

“We will take into consideration only considerable offers that satisfy all the interested parties.”

Quartet lined up for move to St James Park

Dan Burn moved to Newcastle from Brighton last week and The Mirror are reporting another current Seagulls defender could follow the same path.

The Magpies showed an interest in the former Bristol City centre-back during the January transfer window but were put off by the price placed upon his head by their Premier League rivals.

Another current Brighton player is being considered by Newcastle with Leandro Trossard also being discussed as a possible target.

Chelsea youngster Conor Gallagher is also on the Magpies radar after shining during a season-long loan spell at Crystal Palace and Blackburn Rovers’ Chilean international Ben Brereton Diaz is also said to be under consideration.

The quartet are believed to be on a list of potential targets being put together by incoming technical director Dan Ashworth.

Cherries star targeted

Bournemouth’s highly-rated defender Lloyd Kelly was believed to be a target of the Magpies ahead of the January transfer window.

A move failed to come to fruition but Football Insider have reported Newcastle are continuing to monitor the situation along with Premier League rivals Liverpool and Southampton.

Transfer target confirms Magpies interest

Inter Milan saw off competition from Newcastle to sign Atalanta full-back Robin Gosens last month.

The German international is said to have snubbed a lucrative offer from the Magpies to join Inter on an 18-month loan.

Gosens confirmed a move to Tyneside was an option, but told Kicker the reasons behind his decision to remain in Serie A.

“I think it’s very human to think about the money,’ he said.

“If you can earn many times more for the same job at another location?

“Show me someone who would simply say, ‘No, thank you.

“It’s not just about me either, I probably could have provided for a few more generations of my family with that money.

“I would like to be able to look at the mirror at the end of my career and say, ‘I got the most out of my career from a sporting aspect.’

“With Newcastle, I didn’t have that feeling from the beginning.”