Newcastle United submit offer for Malick Thiaw – Report | OneFootball

Newcastle United have made an offer to buy Malick Thiaw, according to media in Italy.

La Gazzetta dello Sport report that United submitted an offer of €30m (Approx £26.1m) for the centre-back but AC Milan have rejected it.

The Italian newspaper say their information is that Newcastle United could be quickly returning with a new improved offer for the German international.

Easy to see why Eddie Howe would be interested in Malick Thiaw, as he is a player who usually plays as a right-sided central defender but is also comfortable at right-back and even as a defensive midfielder.

Set to turn 24 on Friday (8 August 2025), Thiaw has been playing as one of a back three for AC Milan in pre-season. With the Serie A club keen to keep the defender, partly because of the versatility he offers.

Newcastle United of course have for some time needed a quality younger option to compete with Fabian Schar.

Other Serie A clubs have already been linked with Malick Thiaw this summer.

I think we can be pretty certain that the German international has been on Eddie Howe and Newcastle United’s radar for some time, as a possible transfer target.

Indeed, last summer it was seen as all but a certainty that Newcastle United were going to sign the then 22 year old, only for no deal to happen.

Throughout August 2024 we saw the Marc Guehi saga play out without a successful conclusion.

This week The Times have reported an exclusive, saying that Newcastle are trying again to capture Guehi but will only go up to £40m for someone who has less than 11 months left on their contract.

I know that it is often dangerous to assume two plus two equals four, but these reports of claimed interest in both Malick Thiaw and Marc Guehi, do appear to suggest that Newcastle United are now actively trying to land that long awaited defender who can play on the right side of central defence (plus is versatile and able to play elsewhere).

Just over 12 months ago when Newcastle United were in Japan for pre-season, Eddie Howe was quizzed on 30 July 2024 about claims that NUFC were set to buy Malick Thiaw.

Interestingly, rather than the usual no comment, Eddie Howe was happy to talk about Malick Thiaw back then…

“There are no updates on that…

“I’m always reluctant to comment on these things.

“But he is a player I know about.

“Of course I do, from our games in the Champions League against Milan.

“He is a very good player but that is it.”

Malick Thiaw played in the goalless draw against Newcastle United at the San Siro in September 2023 but was injured and missed the 2-1 AC Milan win at St James’ Park in December 2023.

Elsewhere in the Italian media, a number of journalists are claiming that AC Milan are holding out for €35m (Approx £30.5m) and that if Newcastle United come back with that kind of second offer, every chance they will then add Malick Thiaw to Anthony Elanga and Aaron Ramsdale as incoming signings this summer.