Soccer Football - Italian Super Cup - Final - Inter Milan v AC Milan - Al Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - January 7, 2025 AC Milan's Malick Thiaw and Chaka Traore celebrate after winning the Italian Super Cup REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini
Newcastle United are desperately searching for reinforcements to add quality to their squad this summer ahead of their Champions League return.
The Magpies have not enjoyed a successful summer in terms of recruitment, and an ongoing saga involving Alexander Isak has only complicated matters.
The Swedish star has expressed a desire to explore his options and potentially leave Tyneside this summer.
It is widely reported that Liverpool are interested in signing him before the transfer window closes, but no bid from the Premier League champions has been tabled as of yet.
Newcastle have struggled to land their striker targets, with Hugo Ekitike, Liam Delap, and Joao Pedro all opting for moves elsewhere.
Meanwhile, a deal for Yoane Wissa appears difficult, as Brentford are unwilling to sell at present despite the player refusing to return to the club for pre-season.
However, it’s not just the forward line that requires strengthening; future-proofing the defence is also high on the agenda for the Newcastle recruitment team.
According to NUFCblog, Newcastle are reigniting their interest in AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw.
The publication claims to exclusively reveal that scouts have been sent to watch the centre-back during pre-season friendlies against Premier League sides Liverpool and Arsenal.
Should Newcastle sign Malick Thiaw?
It’s no secret that the North East giants have been on the hunt for Fabian Schar’s long-term successor for some time.
The future of the centre-back partnership alongside Sven Botman will be crucial to Newcastle’s ambitions of competing both domestically and in Europe.
Just before the season’s end, Schar extended his stay on Tyneside by another 12 months and is likely to continue as a guaranteed starter when Newcastle kick off their Premier League campaign next month.
However, the Swiss defender is not a long-term solution, so a move for Thiaw could be exactly what Newcastle need to get their recruitment drive back on track.
The 6-foot-4 powerhouse – once hailed as a “top-class centre-back” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – boasts strengths in aerial duels and passing, and is capable of playing on both the left and right of a centre-back pairing, bringing strength and versatility to St James’ Park.
At 23 years old, he represents a long-term prospect for Eddie Howe to mould into the natural heir to Schar, and he wouldn’t necessarily break the bank either.
A €25m (£21m) fee had previously been agreed between Milan and Como earlier in the window.
However, Thiaw was unconvinced by the move due to the lack of European football on offer.
As a result, Newcastle could be in a strong position to capitalise on Como’s misfortune by offering both Champions League and Premier League football.
If the originally agreed fee remains acceptable, Newcastle would be paying less than half the price demanded for other targets such as Marc Guehi.
About the Author
