Newcastle set to complete €40m Malick Thiaw signing from Milan | OneFootball

Newcastle United are close to completing the signing of Malick Thiaw from AC Milan in a deal worth up to €40 million.

The agreement includes an initial fee of €35 million plus €5m in add-ons. The transfer is now in its final stages, with the German international awaiting permission to travel for his medical.

The 23-year-old has been on Newcastle’s radar since impressing manager Eddie Howe during a Champions League meeting between the two clubs.

Howe publicly praised him at the time, describing him as ‘a very good player’ after their encounter.

The centre-back joined Milan from Schalke in 2022 and is contracted until 2027. He has made 85 appearances for the Italian side, helping them win the Supercoppa Italiana last season.

However, Milan endured a disappointing domestic campaign, finishing eighth in Serie A and losing the Coppa Italia final to Bologna.

With the presence of several other centre-back options, including Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia, Strahinja Pavlovic and Davide Bartesaghi, the club appear ready to cash in.

Thiaw has earned three senior caps for Germany, all in 2023. His arrival will strengthen Newcastle’s defensive options following Lloyd Kelly’s move to Juventus earlier this summer.

Newcastle have already signed Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest and secured Aaron Ramsdale on a season-long loan from Southampton.

Despite those signings, the club have missed out on several high-profile targets, including Hugo Ekitike, Bryan Mbeumo, Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Dean Huijsen and James Trafford.

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed the deal, reporting that Thiaw ‘only wanted Newcastle’ despite interest from elsewhere.

The player’s determination to join Howe’s squad appears to have been a decisive factor in pushing the move forward.

Once the medical is completed and final terms are signed, Thiaw is expected to become Newcastle’s most expensive signing of the summer and a central figure in their plans.