Sven Botman congratulated Alexander Isak after his transfer from Newcastle United to Liverpool, so he\u2019d obviously be bang up for joining the Swede at Anfield.<\/p>\n
A fresh report from Caught Offside<\/a> says Newcastle centre-back Botman is a target for Liverpool<\/strong><\/a> and Chelsea. Is he, though? Honestly? Probably.<\/p>\n Sven Botman for Newcastle: Key points<\/p>\n It\u2019s reported that Botman\u2019s \u2018fine form\u2019 has caught the eye of Premier League rivals Chelsea and Liverpool \u2013 the latter having signed Isak from Newcastle for a British record fee in the summer.<\/p>\n After losing their star striker to the Reds, Eddie Howe\u2019s side \u2018will do all they can to keep\u2019 the Dutch defender.<\/p>\n Interest in Botman was first reported by the website weeks ago, so there must be some legitimacy to the link if they keep banging on that door.<\/p>\n First, it was \u2018Liverpool have had interest\u2019, then the rumours really started to accelerate: \u2018Liverpool want to repeat Isak move\u2019, \u2018On Liverpool\u2019s list\u2019, \u2018Key development on Liverpool & Chelsea transfer target expected in next few weeks\u2019, a less subtle \u2018Liverpool and Chelsea want to sign 25-year-old Newcastle star\u2019, and now \u2018Liverpool could make a move for Chelsea target\u2019 \u2013 all included in Caught Offside headlines from the last three weeks.<\/p>\n Unsurprisingly, Newcastle<\/strong><\/a> \u2018really want to keep\u2019 Botman. CO sources say:\u00a0\u201cThere\u2019s been a delay to sorting out a new contract for Botman due to the change in sporting director at Newcastle.<\/p>\n \u201cBut a new deal for Botman is one of Ross Wilson\u2019s top priorities. Newcastle are calm about the situation. They don\u2019t want to sell, and he\u2019s yet to signal that he wants to leave.<\/p>\n \u201c[Arne] Slot sees Botman as someone who\u2019d fit in well. Liverpool have monitored him closely and could make a move.<\/p>\n \u201cChelsea<\/strong><\/a> have been tracking Botman for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n READ:\u00a0Sandro Tonali sympathy for Isak in Newcastle future admission opens door to glorious Liverpool transfer<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Botman makes sense for Chelsea and Liverpool<\/p>\n Whether or not it\u2019s complete rubbish or true, there\u2019s no doubt Botman would be a very sensible signing for Chelsea, and a pretty sensible one for Liverpool too.<\/p>\n His previous injuries are a concern, but it\u2019s clear that the ex-Lille defender is a top player and good enough to make the step up to a Premier League title contender.<\/p>\n You can look at it two ways:<\/p>\n And if we\u2019re being completely honest, Caught Offside being the only source doesn\u2019t exactly bode well.<\/p>\n Nonetheless, Chelsea defenders keep getting injured, and they still don\u2019t have a world-class centre-half despite spending huge amounts of money.<\/p>\n Botman isn\u2019t world-class yet, but he has the potential to become elite, and he\u2019d walk straight into Enzo Maresca\u2019s best XI, especially in the absence of Levi Colwill.<\/p>\n Two left-footed centre-halves playing together might send a shiver down your spine, but if Botman were a Blue, he and Colwill would form Maresca\u2019s strongest partnership at the back.<\/p>\n Liverpool, meanwhile, are even more desperate for centre-back depth than Chelsea.<\/p>\n Their top target remains Crystal Palace\u2019s Marc Guehi. As we all know, the champions were agonisingly close to signing him on deadline day, probably the biggest missed transfer of 2025\/26<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Now, though, Guehi<\/strong><\/a> is expected to leave Palace on a free transfer in the summer. It\u2019s clear he won\u2019t sign a new contract, but there\u2019s a small chance he could go for a fee in January.<\/p>\n Liverpool will face competition from Europe\u2019s elite, likely including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and potentially Chelsea, Manchester United, and Manchester City.<\/p>\n Signing Botman mid-season won\u2019t happen. But if Liverpool miss out on Guehi, another saga between these two rivals feels inevitable.<\/p>\n Newcastle man to reunite with \u2018brother\u2019 Isak at Liverpool?<\/p>\n\n