Manchester City make enquiry over Newcastle United star prior to €100 million transfer chase

Newcastle United reportedly received a transfer enquiry from Premier League rivals Manchester City over one of Eddie Howe’s integral first-team stars.

The Premier League champions are currently in pursuit of a new central defender this summer, amid concerns that Spain international Aymeric Laporte could yet find a way through the Etihad Stadium’s exit door.

The 29-year-old is thus far subject to no formal offers from any supposedly interested parties in European football, with the likes of Barcelona, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain all having been credited with some form of admiration for the player.

Nevertheless, Manchester City have proven to be proactive when it comes to the future of Aymeric Laporte, and a new report has detailed just how advanced the club have been when it comes to looking for a potential replacement this summer.

While Etihad officials are expected to formalise interest for Josko Gvardiol in the coming days through a formal bid to RB Leipzig, it appears as though the Croatia international has only appeared on their radar after interest in a name closer to home was pushed back.

That is according to the information of NUFCBlog.co.uk, who report that Manchester City have shown interest in a summer move for Sven Botman, but were ‘swiftly’ told that the Dutch international centre-back would not be going anywhere in the coming weeks and months.

The report quotes a source with ‘strong links in recruitment’, who claims that City officials enquired about Botman’s availability this summer, prior to all in for RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol – whom they are now in advanced talks with over a possible €100 million deal.

On the subject of Newcastle United’s response to Manchester City, NUFCBlog report that the comeback from St James’ Park officials was a ‘swift and firm one’, informing last season’s historic treble winners that the 23-year-old would not be for sale at any price this window.

Sven Botman is relatively new to Premier League football as a whole, having joined the north-east club last summer on a five-year contract for a transfer fee understood to be in the region of €37 million.

The Netherlands international has proven to be somewhat transformational in defence for Eddie Howe since his arrival however, playing a crucial role in securing Newcastle United a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Manchester City have already been active once this summer, having signed Croatia international midfielder Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea in a deal understood to be worth up to £30 million including potential add-ons.