Real Madrid are reportedly set to rival Liverpool in pursuit of 21-year-old Dutch defender Sven Botman in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by Spanish outlet El Gol Digital, Real Madrid have joined the race to sign Sven Botman from Lille in the summer transfer window. The 21-year-old Dutch centre-back is also the subject of interest from Liverpool over a move in the ongoing window.
Sven Botman has made quite an impression since joining Lille from Ajax last summer. Unable to make grade at the Dutch outfit, the young defender ended up getting his big break with Les Dogues, going on to make 47 appearances across all competitions last term while also chipping in with an assist.
The 21-year-old was a part of the team that stunned French football by winning the Ligue 1 title ahead of Paris Saint-Germain in 2020/21. However, with Lille among a bevy of clubs mired in a world of financial trouble borne out of the coronavirus, there have been suggestions that Botman could be the player they cash in on to balance their books. This has alerted Liverpool and Real Madrid.
The interest from Liverpool is a tad bit surprising, considering they have already bolstered their defence by signing Ibrahima Konate. However, with Nathaniel Phillips being linked with a possible summer exit from Anfield, entering the market for another central defender does make sense, seeing as Joel Matip’s fitness situation is suspect at best.
To that end, Botman is a viable target for Liverpool, who have been linked with the Dutch defender since the January transfer window. The Reds, though, now face stiff competition from Real Madrid, who are the latest entrants in the race to sign the 21-year-old from Lille.
The Merengues have been forced into the transfer market following Raphael Varane’s move to Manchester United. The Frenchman’s departure means Real Madrid have lost both their first-choice centre-backs, meaning scouring the market for a replacement is prudent.
To that end, they are making use of Big Data analytics to identify the perfect option, with Lisandro Martinez among the candidates emerging on Real Madrid’s radar. However, Martinez is not the only central defender to have been identified by the said system, with the likes of Botman, Jhon Lucumi and Perr Schuurs also being possible targets.
It is Botman, in particular, who is likely to be chased by Real Madrid, who will battle Liverpool for the 21-year-old. What now remains to be seen is if either club launches the offensive for the Dutch defender and how much Lille demand in exchange for his services if they do receive an approach.