'Of course' - Sven Botman delivers strong Newcastle United January transfer stance after double injury blow
Newcastle United transfers: Sven Botman delivered his stance on Newcastle’s business in the January transfer window.
Newcastle United are yet to make a signing in the winter transfer window with less than a fortnight until deadline day on February 2nd.
Since Sven Botman’s arrival at Newcastle in the summer of 2022, the club have made just one major January signing. That came in 2023 as Anthony Gordon arrived from Everton for £45million.
Other than that, and the first transfer window the club had under new ownership amid a relegation battle, Newcastle have steered clear from doing any January business.
NUFC ‘new signings’
While head coach Eddie Howe wouldn’t rule out any additions in the final two weeks of the transfer window, he did make the dreaded ‘like a new signing’ claim when talking about Dan Burn and William Osula returning from injury.
He told The Gazette: “Certainly they will feel like new signings for us. Especially Dan because there's a real positional need there and that's not slight on Will Osula at all, we're delighted to have him back in training. He's going to be a big player for us.
“But Dan's return with being so light in that position is a huge lift. If we can keep him fit and feeling good, he will be like a new signing.
“But yeah, there's still time [to make signings] and it's still relatively unknown. In terms of what direction we will take.”
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Sven Botman has his say on January transfer business amid defensive crisis
While Burn’s imminent return will ease the pressure on Newcastle’s defence, Botman is currently just one of four fit senior defenders available to Howe. Fabian Schar is set to be out for three months with ankle injury while Tino Livrmento is facing weeks out with a hamstring injury.
Emil Krafth has also been out since November with a knee problem.
Botman has had a history of injury absences over the past few seasons and has only just returned from a back problem himself.
But the 26-year-old is comfortable with the defensive situation having recently signed a new long-term deal on Tyneside.
"I think we are used to each other, so whoever is in the back four, it doesn't really matter in terms of a relationship,” Botman said. “Sometimes, in terms of load and fitness, it can be difficult for certain players in certain moments. Sometimes, it's not ideal, but we are all proud and happy to play for this club and we just give it our all."
The Dutch defender went on to add that he doesn’t see ‘any reason’ why the club would need to sign any new players this transfer window.
“We have a really good squad,” Botman added. “Of course we had some problems with injuries, especially in defense, but when everybody’s fit we have a really strong squad.
“Maybe there’s [something happening] behind the scenes or maybe not, but myself, I don’t see any reason why we have to sign a new player now.”
It comes on the back of a club record summer spend of around £250million, almost half of which was taken up by the £65million addition of Nick Woltemade and £55million signing of Yoane Wissa.
“They are both great players,” Botman continued. “Yes, the best is still to come. Yes because every player is growing here as a player.
“They both need to get adapted to the tactics and how we play and the team has to adapt to them as well. It doesn’t take just a few days or a few weeks. We definitely have seen some great things of both players.”