Newcastle United is on the verge of signing Malick Thiaw, a defender from AC Milan. The center-back is expected to arrive in Tyneside on Sunday night to finalize his transfer to St James’ Park.
Newcastle has missed out on several targets this summer, including Benjamin Sesko, Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro, and James Trafford, but Thiaw is eager to join the club.
The German international will undergo a medical examination before completing a deal that is reportedly worth up to £34.62 million (40 million euros), including add-ons.
Acquiring a new center-back has been a priority for Newcastle this summer, as manager Eddie Howe aims to enhance competition and reduce the average age of the squad.
While Howe did not specifically comment on Thiaw over the weekend, he has previously described the 24-year-old as a “very good player.”
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Howe expressed optimism about making progress in the transfer market ahead of Newcastle’s opening match against Aston Villa on Saturday.
“I’ve been hopeful for several weeks,” he stated on Friday night. “As I’ve mentioned many times, everyone behind the scenes has been working incredibly hard and is eager to see some movement in the transfer market.
“However, it is challenging, and we need to find the right player at the right price. There are many factors that must align for a transfer to happen.
“I believe we can still assemble a very strong team. The squad’s balance isn’t quite right, and we recognize that. We hope to address it with the signings we aim to make. Let’s see what unfolds.”
