Newcastle are now making progress on their dream defensive signing

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Newcastle United will need to work on their defence next season.

Indeed, manager Eddie Howe was keen to quickly point out at that the issues Newcastle needed to fix lay at the back following the culmination of last season’s Premier League campaign.

While goals were not much of a problem for Howe’s side last season, there can be little doubt there was a dramatic drop-off defensively.

The team who finished level with champions Manchester City as the joint-best defensive outfit in the 2022-23 season then conceded 62 times last time out.

That marked a 29-goal swing for Howe’s side, who will also be without Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles for the foreseeable future due to injury.

While Lloyd Kelly has already been signed to bolster ranks, Newcastle are reportedly keen on another addition – having already missed out on Tosin Adarabioyo to Chelsea earlier this summer.

AC Milan’s Malick Thiaw has been described as the dream signing amongst Newcastle’s recruitment staff and there has now been a development.

Newcastle are making progress on Malick Thiaw signing

According to journalist Joel Bland on X (formerly Twitter), talks with the Italian giants over a move for the 22-year-old are going in the right direction.

A contract in principle with the player is even said to have been agreed verbally, though the deal is not yet done.

Eddie Howe is a big fan of Malick Thiaw

Not only do the recruitment staff value the German international highly, Howe is said to be a big fan of the player.

For their part, it has previously been reported that Milan would consider accepting an offer of around £34m for the former Schalke defender.

With things seemingly going in the right direction, this looks like a positive step for Newcastle, given just how highly they seem to rate Thiaw.