Excellent analysis on what Malick Thiaw brings to Newcastle United – BBC Sport report | OneFootball

Some excellent analysis from BBC Sport on what Malick Thiaw brings to Newcastle United.

Eddie Howe finally landing the new option to compete with Fabian Schar on the right side of the middle of defence.

Malick Thiaw though a versatile player who can play a number of positions, even as a defensive midfielder.

However, it is in central defence he is expected to mainly feature, probably in a back four but comfortable in a back three, playing in any of the three roles.

So what exactly will Malick Thiaw bring to Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United team…

Analysis from BBC Sport on what Malick Thiaw brings to Newcastle United – 13 August 2025:

‘Malick Thiaw’s arrival on Tyneside helps ease Newcastle’s frustrating transfer window.

The defender seems to have been high on Eddie Howe’s list of targets for some time and it is easy to see why. He is a modern defensive hybrid and possesses a rare combination of physical and technical attributes.

The 6ft 4in Germany international is strong in the air but has a top speed that allows him to operate in Newcastle’s preferred high line. He is also tactically flexible and can be deployed as a right-sided or left-sided centre-back, while he operated in the middle of a back three in 2022-23.

Thiaw can produce line-breaking passes and switch the play effectively. In 2024-25, he ranked inside the top 10 for long passes completed by defenders, managing an average of 3.5 per game in the Italian top flight. Despite that, he seldom gives the ball away, and in Serie A last season, only two defenders had a better passing accuracy than his 93.6%

Acquiring a youthful defender was a clear priority in this window, with Dan Burn, Jamaal Lascelles and Fabian Schar all over 30 and Sven Botman struggling with injuries.