NEWCASTLE UNITED are hoping to complete a deal for Sven Botman this week, with AC Milan having effectively admitted defeat in their own pursuit of the Lille defender.

As revealed by The Northern Echo last week, the Magpies have agreed a fee for Botman, who has always been regarded as their number one defensive target this summer.

Newcastle will pay an initial fee of around £30m for the 22-year-old, and have also agreed a series of potentially costly add-ons that could see the price rise significantly over the course of Botman’s proposed contract.

While AC Milan held their own discussions with the Lille hierarchy and Botman’s representatives, the newly-crowned Italian champions are understood to have decided they are unwilling to match the terms of the deal Newcastle have placed on the table.

As a result, their interest is effectively at an end, unless there is a breakdown in the three-way discussions that remain ongoing between Newcastle, Lille and the Dutch centre-half.

Paris St Germain were touted as potential suitors in the French press over the weekend, but at things stand, the Ligue 1 side have not made a formal approach to Lille.

Their interest could complicate things if it was to be hardened up in the next few days, so Newcastle are understandably keen to drive things forward in the next couple of days, with Botman having finally completed his international duties with Netherlands Under-21s on Saturday.

Botman played the opening 45 minutes as the Dutch youngsters rounded off their qualifying campaign for next summer’s finals in Georgia and Romania with a 1-0 win.

Tellingly, Newcastle’s recently-appointed director of football, Dan Ashworth, was amongst the crowd at Llanelli’s Parc-Y-Scarlets, watching Botman at first hand.

He is set to lead this week’s negotiations, which it is hoped will result a deal being concluded ahead of next weekend.

Botman was ready to move to Tyneside in January, only for Lille to reject a series of Newcastle offers, so his financial demands should not present too many hurdles to be overcome.

Provided talks progress as planned, the defender would become the Magpies’ second signing of the summer, following Matt Targett, who completed a £15m move from Aston Villa last week.

Newcastle had agreed an outline deal for Reims striker Hugo Ekitike, but their move for the teenager is currently on ice after he sustained a hamstring injury while on international duty at the Toulon Tournament last week.

The Magpies have not drawn a line under their pursuit of Ekitike, who is another player who was a major target in January, but Eddie Howe and the rest of the club’s recruitment team are assessing their options before making their next move.

Newcastle continue to be linked with Lyon’s Lucas Paqueta, but his £58m price tag remains a major issue, with the Magpies keen to remain within strictly-defined financial parameters this summer. Paqueta is also a major target for Tottenham, who can offer Champions League football after they finished in fourth position next season.