Liverpool transfer news: CaughtOffSide reports that Liverpool have identified Malick Thiaw as a leading candidate to replace Virgil van Dijk next summer. Manchester United are tracking the 25-year-old Newcastle United centre-back too, although the report says neither club have opened formal talks.
Newcastle have no intention of selling Thiaw, who remains contracted until 2029, and would demand £65m-£70m for any deal. Liverpool face a possible defensive reshuffle because Van Dijk and Joe Gomez are due to reach the final year of their contracts after this season, while Ronald Araujo is only at Anfield on loan for 2026/27.
The report points to Newcastle sporting director Ross Wilson’s comments as a reason for optimism. Wilson has stressed that successful Premier League clubs need to trade players rather than allow squads to age together, giving Liverpool a potential route despite Newcastle’s current stance. That policy has already dictated Newcastle’s recent business significantly overall.
Liverpool transfer news: Why the £70m target makes sense
Malick Thiaw looks like a sensible match for Andoni Iraola’s demands. Newcastle’s official profile confirms the Germany international joined from AC Milan in August 2025, and he now has three senior caps. Last season he became a defensive anchor, making 31 Premier League appearances, winning 64% of his aerial duels, producing 88 interceptions and completing 112 clearances. Those numbers suggest a defender who embraces physical work rather than avoids it.
Iraola asks his centre-backs to defend high, recover quickly and attack danger before counter-attacks gather speed. Thiaw’s athletic recovery ability and willingness to step out suit that approach, while his work at Milan and Newcastle has exposed him to teams that expect defenders to progress play under pressure.
He can break lines with vertical passes instead of settling for safe sideways distribution. Liverpool appointed Iraola in June 2026 after his successful Bournemouth spell, and his attacking approach makes that defensive profile especially relevant.
The £70m question for Liverpool
There is tactical value beyond centre-back too. Thiaw can cover right-back and defensive midfield, giving Liverpool useful options across a demanding season. He cannot replace Van Dijk’s extraordinary aerial dominance, but his own aerial strength could help reduce set-piece problems.
The £65m-£70m price still demands scrutiny. Liverpool transfer news around Iraola’s rebuild points to long-term planning rather than panic spending, so a 25-year-old Premier League-proven Germany international offers a clearer case than a speculative signing for a club rebuilding its defence now.
Newcastle’s resistance matters, yet Wilson’s insistence on player trading leaves room for a future sale if the numbers work. For Liverpool, that makes Thiaw a serious succession candidate rather than a headline created from thin air.
£47m deal collapse sparks 2027 twist between Chelsea and Liverpool
Vital Chelsea
IPSLIV
Vital Ipswich…