Pundit fears Sven Botman could quit Newcastle United as ‘unbelievable’ claim made
Sven Botman could leave Newcastle United if the club fails to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
That’s according to former Hibernian striker Tam McManus, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the Dutchman’s recent form.
Botman, 22, signed for Newcastle from Lille in the summer of 2022 and has been a key member of the Premier League’s meanest defence.
The Dutchman has started all but three of Newcastle’s Premier League games this season and is yet to experience a league loss.
McManus expects the defender to develop into one of the world’s best players.
“The boy is unbelievable,” McManus told Football Insider‘s Ben Wild.
“How Newcastle got him for that price I will never know. You can see why AC Milan wanted to sign him.
“Eddie Howe has transformed that defence which is funny because everyone said he didn’t know how to organise a defence.
“Newcastle and Botman have been absolutely outstanding this season, how did none of the bigger clubs in the league get this guy?
“I said a few weeks ago that there may be interest in him this month, I think definitely the summer. That’s why Newcastle have to get into the Champions League.
“They need to keep players like Botman around because I think this guy is going to be one of the best in the world in a few years.
“He’s only in his early 20s as well so he is going to grow significantly and that is a really exciting thought.
“Think about how good he is going to be after a full season of Premier League football.
“Newcastle need to keep him so getting into that top four is really important now.”
In other news, a pundit has suggested Newcastle United may be ‘losing patience’ with Allan Saint-Maximin after injury update.