Godwin ObajeNewcastle United Weigh Up Defensive Swoop as Malick Thiaw Deal Back on Radar
Newcastle United are casting the net wide for a long-term successor to Fabian Schär, with AC Milan’s Malick Thiaw emerging once again as a name firmly under consideration following a fresh twist in his proposed move to Serie A new boys Como.
The Magpies have endured a frustratingly slow start to this transfer window, partly constrained by the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules, but bolstering the defence remains a clear priority for Eddie Howe as he looks to sustain the club’s push for Champions League football.
Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi has been high on Newcastle’s wishlist for months. The England international, still only 24, is entering the final year of his deal at Selhurst Park and looks ripe for a move. However, Liverpool’s growing interest threatens to turn any chase into a bidding war the Magpies may be reluctant to enter.
That has led Newcastle to revisit other options. Speaking on YouTube (via Milan News), transfer insider Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Thiaw, 23, is very much back in the conversation as uncertainty lingers over his future in Italy.
“The more time passes, the more difficult it is for Thiaw to say yes to Como,” Romano explained. “They tell me that it is true that Como is doing everything and more to try to convince him, but the German would like to continue playing in a European competition, if possible. There is some appreciation from the Premier League. Last year Newcastle were looking for Thiaw and today Newcastle is still looking for a central defender. So keep an eye on this path, at the moment there is nothing concrete, but I can confirm that Newcastle is also evaluating Thiaw, who, in addition to returning to Germany, would be interested in an experience in the Premier League.”
It’s a situation that suits Newcastle, who have monitored Thiaw for over a year. The towering defender, noted for his composure on the ball and aerial strength, fits Howe’s preference for young, physically dominant players with plenty of room to develop.
There remains a question, though, over why Newcastle didn’t make a firmer move last summer. Some around the club believe Thiaw was partly a smokescreen to disguise negotiations for Guehi — a theory which will gain traction if the Magpies now pivot back to the Milan man should other targets prove out of reach.
At 34 this year, Schär is still a steady presence but cannot be expected to shoulder the same burden indefinitely. With European fixtures on the horizon and defensive injuries always a risk, the need for a younger heir apparent is obvious.
Meanwhile, Newcastle’s wider transfer business is rumbling on. A 109-goal striker is understood to be close to completing a medical, with a five-year contract lined up following a lengthy scouting process. The signing would reinforce Howe’s insistence that the club’s next step is an evolution, not a wholesale revolution.
What’s clear is that Newcastle’s recruitment team have little margin for error. Defensive solidity was the bedrock of their impressive campaign last season — and with rivals spending freely, any misstep in this department could quickly prove costly.
For now, as Romano says, the club’s fans will do well to “keep an eye on this path.” It may yet be a bumpy road, but with options like Thiaw and Guehi still alive, Newcastle are determined to get it right.
Godwin Obaje
