Newcastle have made the Lille centre-back Sven Botman a priority signing in the January transfer window with Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard also on Eddie Howe’s wishlist.

The upcoming transfer window will be Newcastle’s first under new ownership and they are in desperate need of reinforcements, sitting 19th in the table after one win in their first 16 games. They are, however, only three points from Watford above the relegation zone and Howe is confident of dragging the side out of trouble if the right players are signed.

Botman, a 21-year-old Dutch defender who has been with Lille since 2020, has been targeted as the first-choice centre-back to reinforce a unit that has conceded the most goals in the Premier League, 34.

Lille, however, may be reluctant to sell the defender mid-season with the team having qualified for the Champions League last 16, in which they will face Chelsea, and struggling in mid-table in the league. Newcastle would have to pay at least £30m but Lille could ask for as much as £40m.

Milan are another club keen on Botman’s services, needing a replacement for Simon Kjær, who has suffered a long-term injury.

Howe is also looking to sign Lingard from United, either on loan or on a permanent deal. The 28-year-old has yet to start a league game this campaign. West Ham, too, are interested in Lingard with the player having had a successful loan spell there for the second part of the 2020-21 season.