Newcastle have agreed a deal with Lille to sign center-back Sven Botman.

The total fee for the defender is in the region of £35m.

Botman is expected to travel to Tyneside for a medical next week and to finalize personal terms and complete the deal.

The Dutchman has been Eddie Howe’s No 1 defensive transfer target this summer. The club did earmark the defender as a January transfer target but negotiations with Lille have settled.

They have beaten off competition from AC Milan for his signature.

Toon still in talks for Ekitike | Negotiations over certain terms ‘difficult’

Newcastle United are still in talks for Reims striker Hugo Ekitike but are prepared to walk away from the deal if progress is not made.

Negotiations over certain terms have been described to Sky Sports News as “difficult”, with one source revealing that Paris Saint-Germain are interested in the France U21 International, and that other clubs are also keen.

Sky Sports News also understands Newcastle are close to agreeing personal terms with the 20-year-old.

Newcastle sign Pope from Burnley for £10m

Nick Pope his £10m move to completed Newcastle from Burnley with the England goalkeeper signing a four-year contract.

The 30-year-old was keen to stay in the Premier League after Burnley’s relegation to the Championship to ensure he remains in Gareth Southgate’s England plans ahead of the World Cup in Qatar this winter.

Pope, who had one year left on his contract at Burnley, will challenge Martin Dubravka for the No 1 jersey at St James’ Park.

The former Charlton goalkeeper becomes Eddie Howe’s second summer signing after left-back Matt Targett joined earlier this month.

Pope said: “Now I’m here, I can’t wait to get started. The deal has taken a couple of weeks to come to fruition but it got over the line really quickly, and I’m delighted to be here and I ‘m really looking forward to getting stuck into it.”