Newcastle’s incoming new signing Sven Botman has been hailed by Lille teammate Jose Fonte, who told talkSPORT he’s gutted to see the Dutchman leave the French club.

Botman touched down in the north east and arrived at the Magpies training ground on Monday afternoon for his medical, ahead of an expected summer transfer to the Premier League club.

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Newcastle have agreed a £31.8million fee with Lille for the 22-year-old centre-back, who will become the Tyneside outfit’s third major summer signing.

Eddie Howe has already added England goalkeeper Nick Pope to his side, joining from relegated Burnley for £10m, as well as wrapped up a permanent £15m deal for Matt Targett following his successful loan spell from Aston Villa last season.

And Newcastle have been told they have made another excellent acquisition in Botman.

Fonte reserved high praise for the youngster, with whom he forged strong partnership at the back to help Lille to the Ligue 1 title in the 2020/21 season.

Joining the Boot Room on talkSPORT, the former Crystal Palace, Southampton and West Ham defender said: “I only have good things to say about him.

“A great guy, a great personality and a hard worker.

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“He’s tall, he’s considerably fast, he has a great left foot, he gives great balls between the lines and he reads the game very well.

“Listen, I loved every time, every game that we played together.

“He’s good now offensively too, he has improved. He scores goals.

“I think he can deal with the Premier League. For sure it’s going to be a great test for him, but I think he can deal with it, 100 per cent.”