Newcastle United trying to sign Malick Thiaw – Report | OneFootball

News on Thursday that Newcastle United are trying to sign Malick Thiaw.

That is the claim of Milan-based journalist Matteo Moretto.

Malick Thiaw is a 22-year-old central defender who has made 65 league appearances for Schalke and AC Milan.

He moved from the Bundesliga to Serie A in 2022 and has made rapid progress, including leading to call-ups for the German national side.

Malick Thiaw made four Champions League appearances in the 2022/23 season playing in the AC Milan team with Sandro Tonali, as the Italian side reached the semi-finals.

Then this latest 2023/24 season he started all five of the Champions League games he was available for, including the goalless draw in the San Siro against Newcastle United.

He missed the game at St James’ Park in December when out for two and a half months with a hamstring injury.

Matteo Moretto states that Newcastle United wants to sign the right-footed central defender and that there has been contact between the two clubs.

The Italian journalist said he understands that Kieran Trippier has been discussed as part of a potential cash-plus player deal, but that this isn’t pivotal to Newcastle’s interest, Moretto says United is interested regardless of whether or not AC Milan would be interested in taking one of the current NUFC players to offset some of the cost.

As a 22-year-old 6ft 4 centre-back who can also play right-back and as a defensive midfielder, Malick Thiaw certainly ticks a lot of the boxes when it comes to the profile of a player Eddie Howe and Newcastle United could be interested in.

A young right-sided central defender has been on the cards for a while, with Fabian Schar set to turn 33 in December, whilst Jamaal Lascelles is set to turn 31 in November and isn’t expected back for some time as he recovers from a big operation. The pair also have only one more year left on their contracts as things stand.

The Milan-based journalist predicts that things could develop quickly once we reach July. That is when overseas transfers can start to be officially registered, whilst more importantly, it is the start of a new accounting period for Newcastle United (and other Premier League clubs) and that is when business is expected to really get done, in terms of Eddie Howe’s transfer targets.

As well as his playing profile on the pitch, with his age, Malick Thiaw will have his biggest earning days ahead of him so you wouldn’t imagine any problems on that front in terms of agreeing wages.

You would also anticipate that after the Sandro Tonali transfer last summer, Newcastle United will already have easy communication lines with AC Milan, if indeed this reported initial interest is pursued.