Newcastle United are set to strengthen their defence with the signing of AC Milan centre back Malick Thiaw, who is expected to arrive on Tyneside on Sunday night to finalise his move.
The Germany international, 24, will undergo a medical before completing a deal understood to be worth up to £34.62m, including add ons.
Thiaw’s arrival would address a priority area for manager Eddie Howe, who has been seeking to inject youth and competition into an experienced back line.
Newcastle have endured a frustrating summer in the transfer market, missing out on targets such as Benjamin Sesko, Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro and James Trafford. However, Thiaw is understood to be eager to join and bolster the Magpies’ defensive options ahead of the new season.
Howe, speaking after Newcastle’s recent friendly, did not comment directly on Thiaw but praised the player in the past as “very good”. The manager admitted he had been hopeful for weeks of securing a breakthrough before the club’s Premier League opener against Aston Villa next Saturday.
“Everyone behind the scenes has been working incredibly hard and is very keen to get movement in the market,” Howe said. “It is difficult and it has to be the right player at the right price. There are many conditions that need to be right for a transfer to happen.”
Thiaw joined Milan from Schalke in 2022 and quickly established himself as a dependable figure in Serie A and the Champions League. His physical presence and composure on the ball have drawn interest from clubs across Europe, but Newcastle now appear poised to complete the deal.
If finalised, the signing would mark a significant boost to Howe’s squad balance and provide an injection of defensive quality for the campaign ahead.
