Not Tonali or Gordon: Transfer expert says he’s ‘heard’ Man Utd are sizing up a move for £35m Newcastle stalwart | OneFootball

German football expert Christian Falk has revealed that Manchester United have established a surprise interest in Malick Thiaw.

Indeed, it looks as though the Red Devils are impressed with what they’ve seen of the Newcastle United star during his first season in England.

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Malick Thiaw: The state of play

(Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

Thiaw signed for the Magpies in a £35 million deal from AC Milan last summer and almost instantaneously cemented himself as a mainstay in Eddie Howe’s starting XI.

He was eased into the action at the beginning of the term by being left on the bench for three of Newcastle’s opening four fixtures and featuring for just nine minutes in a defeat to Liverpool, presumably to aid his transition into the Premier League.

Then, however, he was deemed ready to make the step up and has since started 23 consecutive games, playing the full 90 minutes in 21 of them.

When making the switch from the San Siro to St. James’ Park, which fellow United-linked teammate Sandro Tonali did only two years prior, Thiaw put pen to paper on a contract until 2029.

Now, there are doubts as to whether he sees out the lengthy deal.

What Falk is hearing about Thiaw on the transfer front

(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Speaking in his CF Bayern Insider column this morning, Falk rebuffed the prospect of Bayern Munich trying to pursue the 24-year-old anytime soon. Instead, he broke the news that United are believed to be among Thiaw’s suitors.

“I heard that Manchester United, however, do have their eye on the centre-back, so perhaps this is the more interesting transfer story at the moment!” stated the transfer reporter.

While a centre-half isn’t by any means going to be United’s priority this summer window, added depth will be necessary if they secure Champions League qualification come the end of the campaign and are looking to really crack on and compete on all fronts in 2026/2027.

The Schalke graduate boasts a plethora of experience in Europe’s most elite competition and now has a season of Premier League experience under his belt, which perhaps explains why United are considering him over alternative candidates.

*Thiaw’s record in the UCL (Transfermarkt)

In addition, Thiaw himself might start to question his future on Tyneside if Newcastle fail to qualify for Europe in any form. Currently, they sit 11th-placed heading into matchweek 28.

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