Malick Thiaw looks destined to move to Newcastle United as the two-year pursuit of a new central defender comes to a close.
Thiaw is close to joining Newcastle from AC Milan in a major boost ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
Indeed, Newcastle tried and failed to sign Marc Guehi last summer, such was their desire to strengthen their defensive line.
This time around, Newcastle were interested in Dean Huijsen before he joined Real Madrid from Bournemouth.
Now, at last, Newcastle are set to bring Thiaw to the club and Alex Crook of talkSPORT has shared some positive news for supporters during an otherwise difficult summer.
Malick Thiaw playing for AC Milan against Leeds in a pre-season friendly.
Photo by Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images
Malick Thiaw turned down big clubs to join Newcastle United
Newcastle have missed out on some key transfer targets this summer during a window that has sometimes looked slightly embarrassing.
With that in mind, it’s brilliant to hear about a player who actively wanted to join the club, as was the case with both Anthony Elanga and Aaron Ramsdale.
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Taking to social media platform X, Crook revealed that he was “told” Thiaw had rejected some “big clubs” to move to Newcastle.
Much has been made about Newcastle’s supposed lack of pulling power this summer, so that insight will no doubt come as welcome relief for supporters.
The clubs Malick Thiaw rejected to join Newcastle United
Not long after Crook’s comments, Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie shed even more light on the matter.
Downie revealed that the German international also had interest from both Bayern Munich and Juventus, two of Europe’s most storied old teams.
He’s now set to travel to Tyneside on Sunday evening before completing a medical on Monday morning.
It’s a positive boost for Newcastle at the right time. They now head into the new season with signings in goal, at the back and on the wing.
There’s still plenty left to do of course but the squad is starting to take shape.