Newcastle rebuff enquiry for £90k/wk star who hasn’t made an appearance this season

The final days of the summer transfer window are a time when clubs often test the waters with speculative offers, hoping to find a deal where others see a problem.

This appears to be the thinking behind a recent approach from German champions Bayer Leverkusen, who made an enquiry to Newcastle United regarding the availability of defender Sven Botman.

The Bundesliga side, reportedly seeking a replacement for Piero Hincapie, saw an opportunity in the Dutchman’s current situation at St. James’ Park.

However, Newcastle’s response was swift and unequivocal: Sven Botman is not for sale. According to reliable sources, the club has no intention of entertaining any offers for the 25-year-old before the transfer deadline, firmly rebuffing Leverkusen’s initial advance.

This decisive stance might seem surprising to some, given Botman’s recent history at the club, but it reveals the careful and pragmatic approach Eddie Howe is being forced to take during a challenging period.

It is no secret that Botman’s time on Tyneside has been disrupted by persistent injury problems. Since his arrival, he has struggled to maintain full fitness, limiting him to just 11 Premier League appearances last season and keeping him out of the matchday squad entirely for the new campaign.

As things stand, he finds himself behind the established partnership of Dan Burn and Fabian Schar in the defensive pecking order. From the outside, this might look like the perfect moment for a fresh start for both the player and the club.

In an ideal world, Newcastle might have considered a sale. Letting go of a player on a significant salary who has been unable to contribute consistently could free up funds to reinvest in a more reliable option.

Leverkusen’s interest confirms that Botman still holds value in the market, and a transfer could have been a logical piece of business.

But the reality of Newcastle’s current situation is far from ideal. The manager, Eddie Howe, is already working with a defensive unit that lacks depth and has been stretched thin by injuries.

The recent signing of Malick Thiaw from AC Milan was meant to help, but he too arrives with a concerning injury record of his own.

To sell Botman now, without a guaranteed, top-quality replacement already through the door, would be an enormous gamble.

This is the core of the dilemma. Newcastle’s recent activity in the transfer market has been frustrating, to say the least.

The club has faced numerous setbacks, failing to secure primary targets like Marc Guehi despite prolonged pursuits. This history of missed opportunities makes the club hesitant to create another problem they might not be able to solve in time.

Therefore, the decision to block Botman’s exit is not a vote of full confidence in the player’s immediate future, but rather a sober acknowledgment of the club’s limitations.

It is a pragmatic, safety-first move. Eddie Howe knows that heading into the long season with an even thinner squad is a risk he cannot afford to take. For now, stability and maintaining numbers are more important than potential profit.

The hope will be that Botman can finally overcome his fitness issues and fight for his place, but if not, his future will likely be reassessed under less pressured circumstances.