MALICK THIAW TO NEWCASTLE UNITED EXPECTED TO QUICKLY FOLLOW AC MILAN SIGNING PAVLOVIC - GAZZETTA DELLO SPORT

On Tuesday, it was widely reported across the Italian media that Newcastle United were now back in trying to sign Malick Thiaw.

Sky Sports Italia amongst those reporting on this, saying Newcastle United has recently made renewed contact with AC Milan, with the intention of signing the defender.

The broadcaster saying that a formal bid from Newcastle United was expected imminently, with AC Milan valuing the 22-year-old at a figure of at least €40m (approx £33.6m).

It was also reported that Newcastle were at the same time in talks with Malick Thiaw’s agents regarding his personal terms.

A story running alongside the Malick Thiaw (potentially) set to join Newcastle United, was AC Milan having agreed terms with RB Salzburg’s Strahinja Pavlovic, another central defender. Personal terms reported to have been agreed and AC Milan trying to then agree a transfer fee with the Austrian club, which is likely to be around half the €40m+ they value Malick Thiaw at.

Now on Friday, Gazzetta Dello Sport are reporting that the Pavlovic transfer is set to go through very shortly, with the Serbian defender getting a payrise up from £12,000 per week to £25,000.

The Italian newspaper saying that the feeling in Milan is that the Malick Thiaw move to Newcastle United will now quickly follow as well, with the two clubs expected to reach agreement, personal terms for the German defender not believed to be an issue.

Indeed, AC Milan set to seemingly have a very much new look defence having conceded 69 goals in all competitions last season. With money from the Malick Thiaw deal set to help AC Milan sign full-back Emerson Royal from Tottenham.

Malick Thiaw turns 23 on 8 August ahead of the new Premier League season and is a 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.

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.

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.

The media in England have increasingly reported that Eddie Howe’s two big targets in this transfer window now, are a right-footed central defender and a versatile attacking player to play wide right, but is also able to play through the middle.

2024-07-26T11:29:22Z dg43tfdfdgfd