Newcastle United’s sporting director Paul Mitchell is now working to get their first major signing over the line this summer.
Eddie Howe is casting the figure of a very patient man on Tyneside as Newcastle await their first significant piece of transfer business.
Lloyd Kelly has marked the only first team addition to the outfield with two backup goalkeepers signed in John Ruddy and Odysseas Vlachodimos.
But the Toon jet off for their pre-season tour of Japan next week and, as things stand, Howe will be going with no major additions.
Last season, Newcastle suffered massively due to a lack of squad depth and Howe will feel he is at risk of going into the 2024/25 season with little improvement made this summer.
However, Paul Mitchell is seemingly working on potential additions with fresh talks having now taken place for one of their top targets.
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Newcastle confident over landing major summer target
Newcastle will go into the new campaign knowing they do not have European football to consider which will mean less of a demand on rotating the squad.
However, that does not mean Newcastle have to standstill in the market with the teams around them improving.
Manchester United finished behind the Toon on goal difference and Erik ten Hag has already seen two considerable improvements made to his starting XI.
Now Mitchell is through the door on Tyneside, Newcastle fans will be hoping the 42-year-old can get the Magpies up and running in the market.
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According to Scott Wilson, Newcastle have now held fresh talks with AC Milan over the centre-back Malick Thiaw.
It is claimed the Italian side are looking for a fee in the region of €40m (£34m) for the German defender this summer.
But Newcastle are confident they will be able to strike a compromise with Milan for one of their main defensive players.
Milan are also said to be close to signing a potential replacement for Thiaw in Strahinja Pavlovic which may provide Newcastle with some extra confidence in landing a deal.
Newcastle could land big talent in Malick Thiaw
The German defender is one of the ‘greatest talents‘ to have emerged from Schalke’s academy and has shown his progression in earning three caps for German national side at just 22.
Thiaw is a player who featured heavily for Milan last season making 30 appearances across all competitions.
And given the injury crisis at centre-back going into the new campaign on Tyneside, he could mark a really big addition.
However, Howe will surely want to see an important potential addition like Thiaw arrive in time to make the trip to Japan to bond with his new teammates.
But that may certainly be a big ask at this stage.
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