Chelsea to upset Alexander Isak by signing his best friend

Robin Bairner

Updated: 7 Nov 2025 11:35 GMT
4 min read

Alexander Isak, Liverpool, Chelsea, 2025/26 — © IMAGO

Chelsea have put Newcastle United defender Sven Botman on their transfer shortlist in a move that could frustrate his close friend and former team-mate Alexander Isak.

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The 25-year-old centre-back has long been linked with Liverpool, whose need for additional options in the middle of defence is well publicised.

Botman is now of interest to Chelsea, The Daily Briefing reports.

Current ETV

Sven Botman

D (C)

Newcastle

Sven Botman

D (C)

Newcastle

ETV Range

€38.8M - €47.5M

The former Lille defender is out of contract in 2027 and there is no sign of a new deal being agreed. As such, he could be available for a knockdown price in 2026, although it is stressed that the Blues have not started talks with either the club or the player.

Interest from Stamford Bridge is said to have been ongoing “for a while”, despite Chelsea being well stocked with left-sided central defenders, including Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile and Jorrel Hato.

Botman, meanwhile, has reason to look for a new club. He has yet to break into the Netherlands international team, despite performing at a high level for many years, and a move may just be the catalyst for him to take this major step up in his career.

Furthermore, he was criticised on Tyneside for wishing Alexander Isak well after he forced his way out of Newcastle to join Liverpool.

© IMAGO - Sven Botman and Alexander Isak, Newcastle

Isak to take Botman to Anfield?

Isak may yet have a significant bearing on Botman’s future. He and the Dutch defender are known to be close friends, and the possibility of teaming up with him again at Anfield would doubtless be an attraction for the Ajax academy graduate.

There is also a strong colony of Dutchmen at Anfield, with Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo among the first-team regulars, not to mention manager Arne Slot.

Indeed, the Reds boss appears to be a fan, with an unnamed source indicating: “Slot sees Botman as someone who’d fit in well. Liverpool have monitored him closely and could make a move.”

This information would seem to suggest that the Premier League champions should be considered favourites ahead of Chelsea to land Botman.

Liverpool, though, have several names on their shortlist in this area, with Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace still a hot track while there has been talk of a world-record fee for Alessandro Bastoni of Inter Milan.

© IMAGO - Marc Guehi remains linked with Liverpool

Newcastle fighting for Botman’s future

Any deal is unlikely to be made easy by Newcastle, who were frustrated to see Isak leave the club last summer.

New sporting director Ross Wilson wants a show of strength in the market, with a new deal for Botman thought to be a major priority.

“There’s been a delay to sorting out a new contract for Botman due to the change in sporting director at Newcastle,” another anonymous source claims. “But a new deal for Botman is one of Ross Wilson’s top priorities. Newcastle are calm about the situation. They don’t want to sell, and he’s yet to signal that he wants to leave.”

A deal for Chelsea promises to be complicated, but Botman making the move to West London should not be ruled out.

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