AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw is set to fly to England ahead of a £35million move to Newcastle United.
After a transfer saga which lasted well over a year, Eddie Howe has finally got his man. Malick Thiaw is set to sign for Newcastle United after a fee was agreed with AC Milan on Saturday afternoon.
Newcastle have been in the market for a centre-back, with names like Marc Guehi and Giorgio Scalvini linked, but Howe appears to have settled on the 24-year-old Germany international.
Thiaw featured in AC Milan’s draw with Leeds United on Saturday evening and travelled back to Milan with the squad. However, he is now set to fly to England on Sunday ahead of his Newcastle medical on Monday.
Howe played down reports that Thiaw was joining Newcastle, but the word is out that he will soon become a Magpie. Thiaw is set to sign a four-year deal with Newcastle after completing his medical, with personal terms already agreed upon before the transfer fee had even been finalised.
Thiaw needs a squad number at Newcastle, and he will get the chance to pick from a bunch of contenders.
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Malick Thiaw must pick a new squad number when he joins Newcastle United
Unfortunately for Thiaw, he will not be able to choose a number he has worn at Milan or Schalke, so he must pick a new number and make it his own.
Thiaw wore 33 at Schalke and 28 with Milan. The two numbers are currently held by Dan Burn and Joe Willock at Newcastle, respectively.
Newcastle’s No.9 shirt is available following Callum Wilson’s exit, but the 24-year-old is highly unlikely to take the historic number.
The more realistic options for Thiaw are: 12, 15, 16, 24, 25, 26, and 27.
Defender Lloyd Kelly was the last recipient of the No.25 before his move to Juventus in January. Meanwhile, Thiaw has previously worn No.26 while on international duty with Germany, so there is some sentimental value in that number for him.
Newcastle United have a very promising defence with Malick Thiaw
There was no doubt that Burn and Fabian Schar’s defensive partnership was one of the best in the Premier League last season. The pair were sensational together, helping Newcastle win the Carabao Cup and qualify for the Champions League.
However, Burn is aged 33, and Schar is 34, so it is clear that now is the time to find their rightful replacements in preparation for their departures.
Newcastle already had Sven Botman as the heir to Burn’s throne on Tyneside, but now they have Thiaw to replace Schar long term.
Fans are right to be feeling excited about Newcastle’s defence next season. Howe finally has the last piece of the puzzle, with Botman, Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento already showing their quality in the Magpies’ backline.
With Thiaw arriving, Newcastle now have their backline set for the next few years.
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