Before Newcastle United's summer pursuit of Marc Guehi, there was significant interest in AC Milan's Malik Thiaw. Valued at £25m, the German international had impressed scouts and was subsequently attracting interest on Tyneside.
Six months down the line, that admiration has proved well-placed. Thiaw, now AC Milan's main man at the back, has thrived under former Newcastle managerial target Paulo Fonseca, forming a solid partnership with Matteo Gabbia.
That, in turn, has opened the door for another San Siro exit - with former Chelsea man Fikayo Tomori now being tipped to leave in January or next summer. [Newcastle](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/all-about/newcastle-united-fc), naturally, are being credited with an interest.
Tomori has been linked to the Magpies before and publications in Italy this week have suggested [Eddie Howe](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/all-about/eddie-howe)'s side, West Ham United and Aston Villa are keen to make a move for the Milan outcast.
Milan Live also stated the Italian side don't want to sell to a domestic rival, while the player knows returning to the Premier League will bolster his chances of playing for England under Thomas Tuchel.
Newcastle pushed hard to land a centre-back in the summer but focus may now have switched to the top end of the pitch with Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles both poised for first-team returns in the coming weeks.
Howe, as ever, continues to stress that profit and sustainability rules are wreaking havoc with Newcastle's ability to spend but with Tomori said to be valued at around £25m, just as team-mate Thiaw was in the summer, you suspect there will be plenty of interest in a cut-price deal of that nature.