Another centre-back target could be about to pass Newcastle United by.
The Magpies are determined to sign a right-sided centre-back this summer, having tried and failed to do so during the previous two transfer windows. However, it is so far proving to be difficult for Newcastle United.
Dean Huijsen chose to join Real Madrid, despite the Magpies approaching the Spain international about moving to St James’ Park. Illia Zabarnyi wants to sign for PSG after being on Eddie Howe’s radar.
Newcastle could even miss out on Marc Guehi, with Liverpool suddenly in pole position to land the 24-year-old defender.
Another player who the Toon recruitment team like is Malick Thiaw, but he is someone else who does not appear to be Tyneside-bound.
Malick Thiaw looks on during an AC Milan training session.
Photo by Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images
Newcastle United set to miss out on Malick Thiaw
Geordie Boot Boys were told in May that Newcastle are still interested in Thiaw after trying to sign the AC Milan star in 2024. He was one of the club’s top targets.
Newcastle could not strike a deal for the 23-year-old 12 months ago, and it does not look like they will in 2025 either.
That is because Fabrizio Romano has claimed on X that AC Milan have agreed a deal to sell Thiaw to Serie A rivals Como, who are managed by Cesc Fabregas, for £21million.
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Romano wrote on X: “Understand Como and AC Milan have agreed €25m package for Malick Thiaw. Deal now depends on the player and personal terms, as Thiaw will decide soon. The two clubs are in contact for both Álvaro Morata and Thiaw deals.”
🚨🔵 Understand Como and AC Milan have agreed €25m package for Malick Thiaw.
Deal now depends on the player and personal terms, as Thiaw will decide soon.
The two clubs are in contact for both Álvaro Morata and Thiaw deals. pic.twitter.com/yTq5yZ7CXA
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 26, 2025
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What Eddie Howe said about Newcastle signing Malick Thiaw in 2024
During the early stages of the 2024 summer transfer window, it looked like Newcastle United were going to sign Thiaw from AC Milan. If they had, it would have been the second summer in a row that someone from the San Siro had arrived, with Newcastle signing Sandro Tonali from AC Milan in 2023.
Eddie Howe even spoke to the media about Thiaw, which came as a surprise. It is very rare that a manager speaks about a player they are trying to sign.
The Newcastle United manager said: “I’m always reluctant to comment on these things, but he [Thiaw] is a player I know about, of course I do, from our games in the Champions League against Milan and yeah, he’s a very good player, but that’s it.”
However, Newcastle were also trying to sign Guehi at the same time. He was actually Howe’s primary target, with the Magpies eventually offering £70million to sign him from Crystal Palace.
However, that was not enough for Paul Mitchell to strike a deal with the Eagles.