Soccer Football - Italian Super Cup - Semi Final - Juventus v AC Milan - Al Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - January 3, 2025 AC Milan's Malick Thiaw in action REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini
Newcastle United will kick off their new Premier League campaign next weekend, but still have plenty of work to do in the summer transfer window.
The Magpies will be hoping to continue their push to break into the top four and consistently challenge for European spots domestically, while also preparing for a Champions League campaign in the coming weeks and months.
It has not been an ideal recruitment drive for Newcastle this summer, though they have finally upgraded their right-wing position with the signing of Anthony Elanga.
However, an ongoing situation with star striker Alexander Isak has thrown a major spanner in the works, as the player has expressed a desire to explore his options and is currently training away from the squad.
It is unclear whether Isak will still be a Newcastle player when the transfer window closes on September 1st, but the club cannot afford to rest on their laurels in the meantime and must bring in new additions to strengthen the squad.
According to NUFC Blog, they have exclusive information that Newcastle have made an improved offer to sign AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw.
The publication claims that a formal approach worth £26m was rejected by the Serie A giants.
However, it is now believed that Newcastle have increased their offer to in excess of £30m.
Should Newcastle sign Malick Thiaw?
While the striker saga at St James’ Park has stolen most of the headlines over the last month, it is no secret that Newcastle are also looking to improve their defensive reinforcements.
Fabian Schar extended his stay on Tyneside for another 12 months towards the end of last season, but at 33 years old, he does not represent the long-term future of the centre-back partnership.
Standing at 6 foot 4, Thiaw – once hailed as a “fighter” by teammate Ruben Loftus-Cheek – boasts strengths in aerial duels and passing, making him an ideal candidate to partner Sven Botman in the Newcastle back line.
According to FBref, Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate is the Germany international’s closest statistical comparison in Europe’s top five leagues – unsurprising given Konate is also renowned for using his stature to dominate and bully opponents.
While Newcastle’s attacking threat is a major concern heading into their challenging campaign, ensuring their defensive setup is solid will be equally important in their bid to compete on all fronts.
With that in mind, it is a no-brainer for Newcastle to get the deal for Thiaw done as soon as possible, as he could be hugely influential in shaping the future of the back line on Tyneside.
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