Newcastle United are closing in on Sven Botman from LOSC Lille this summer and could pay €40m (£34.5m) for the 22-year-old, but Paddy Kenny predicts they will start considering more expensive signings after making sensible acquisitions.
He told Football Insider: “There has been a lot of talk about a statement signing or a superstar signing. I think now is the time for that. You have got a couple of faces in, the ball is rolling, go and make a splash. Newcastle have access to all of this money and the project there is unbelievable.
“They can attract big names, just show them videos of that crowd. Anyone would want to play there. I think now is the time we will see some properly big deals. I think even they will admit that a £40million or £50million signing isn’t far away.”
Eddie Howe has no intention of being held to ransom in negotiations, so Newcastle won’t pay over the odds for new recruits. They pulled off some coups paying £13.5m for Dan Burn, £13.5m for Kieran Trippier, £15m for Matt Targett and £38m for Bruno Guimaraes.
Chris Wood joining for £27m was a lofty price given he’s gone on to score just two goals in 17 games, but Newcastle are walking away from deals this summer if selling clubs are being greedy. It’s why they’re unlikely to sign Hugo Ekitike and why they may avoid Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Newcastle’s takeover by Public Investment Fund, PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media has many sides adding a ‘Newcastle tax’ if there’s interest in their players, so that won’t fly with Howe. The Magpies will push for big-name signings eventually but want a gradual build each season to limit wholesale changes.
In other news, Paddy Kenny says Nick Pope improves Newcastle’s squad
