Eddie Howe has delivered a glowing assessment of Newcastle United's £34million man Sven Botman - insisting he can be one of the very best ever to play in the Premier League. The Dutchman goes into today's clash at Southampton without tasting defeat in a black and white shirt and Howe has been left mightily impressed by the opening chapter of his Toon career.
Botman was courted by AC Milan throughout the spring but Newcastle stole in this summer to sign the classy centre-back.
Howe said: "Sven has the tools to be as good as any other centre half talked about in Premier League history. "On the ball, he is outstanding.
"Technically, he is a very high level and can play short and long passes. He has all the tools. He has picked up the pace of the Premier League very quickly, the physicality, and he is an integral part of where we are. I don’t see a weakness in his game. But, of course he is very young."
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