€18m market value
©IMAGO
It’s been a fairly chaotic and disappointing transfer window for Newcastle to date. After winning their first trophy in over 50 years and qualifying for the Champions League, a big summer was expected, but so far it has consisted of missing out on several targets, whilst star striker Alexander Isak still trains away from the rest of the squad, with the Swede pushing for a move to Liverpool. However, the Magpies may be about to finally get another deal over the line in the form of AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw. Negotiations are reportedly advancing fats between the two clubs, with the player keen on the move. A potential deal is expected to be for a package that could reach as much as €40 million. So who is the German defender? And why are the north-east club so keen to bring him to St James’ Park?
What can defender Malick Thiaw bring to Newcastle?
Firstly, it’s worth mentioning how much Newcastle need a new centre-half through the door. Sven Botman is the club’s best central defender, but has had numerous injury issues since coming to the Premier League. Every other first-team centre-back Newcastle have available to them is aged 31 or over – Dan Burn (33), Fabian Schär (33), and Jamaal Lascelles (31). The club need some young blood and new energy in the heart of their defence and Thiaw could provide just that. The German came through at Schalke, making 64 appearances for the first-team before being poached by Italian giants AC Milan in 2022. His minutes in Serie A have steadily increased each season as the player has continued to develop.
At 1.94 metres, Thiaw is physically imposing and is very strong in aerial duels. He also combines his physical presence with impressive composure for a player of his age, with a solid range of passing in his armoury. His reading of the game is another standout trait – Thiaw has a knack of positioning himself well to intercept passes and block shots, often snuffing out danger before it develops. He also has the pace to recover against quick forwards – an attribute that may be important in the Premier League. Thiaw has a current market value of just €18m suggesting Newcastle are willing to overpay for the defender, but he is without doubt a player with huge potential so that value could rise significantly in the coming years.