Lille defender Jose Fonte has provided Newcastle United supporters with an appraisal of new arrival Sven Botman. The Portuguese international partnered the Magpies’ incoming defender in Les Dogues' backline, winning the Ligue 1 title together last year.
Footage emerged of Botman entering Newcastle’s Benton training ground on Monday ahead of a proposed £32million switch from Lille. The long-winded transfer saga looks set to be nearing a finish six months after United expressed initial interest.
Toon chiefs staved off competition from European giants AC Milan - a reflection of how ambitious the new regime at St James’ Park are. Fonte - who knows what it takes to play in the Premier League after stints at West Ham United and Southampton - believes Newcastle have signed a top-drawer defender.
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“I only have good things to say about him,” he told talkSPORT. “A great guy, a great personality and a hard worker.
“He’s tall, he’s considerably fast, he has a great left foot, he gives great balls between the lines and he reads the game very well. Listen, I loved every time, every game that we played together.
“He’s good now offensively too, he has improved. He scores goals. I think he can deal with the Premier League. For sure it’s going to be a great test for him, but I think he can deal with it, 100%.”
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