“Keep an eye on this” – €25m centre-back open to Newcastle move as Toon weigh up options
It’s been a promising few days on the transfer front, with Newcastle United finally stepping things up in the first week of July after a June filled with early setbacks.
Anthony Elanga and James Trafford appear to be closing in on an £85m double switch from Nottingham Forest and Burnley, while a host of centre-back links have emerged now we’ve ‘cooled’ our interest in Marc Guehi.
The Times claim we have identified Atalanta’s Giorgi Scalvini as a ‘top target’, with Eddie Howe said to be a huge fan, although another former target has re-emerged in Malick Thiaw.
Speaking on Fabrizio Romano’s Youtube channel, Italian journalist Matteo Moretto has had more to say on Thiaw’s future as Newcastle weigh up whether to renew their interest.
After revealing on Thursday that Newcastle are considering a move after the player rejected a €25m (£21m) switch to Como, Moretto reveals that the player is open to returning to Germany and ‘interested’ in a Premier League switch.
He adds that Newcastle showed interest in the Milan talent last year and are now ‘evaluating’ whether to make a move, claiming it’s one to “keep an eye on” given our need for a centre-back and long-term admiration:
“The more time passes, the more difficult it is for Thiaw to
say yes to Como. They tell me that it is true that Como is doing everything and more to try to convince him, but the German would like to continue playing in a European competition, if possible.
“There is some appreciation from the Premier League. Last year Newcastle were looking for Thiaw and today Newcastle is still looking for a central defender.
“So keep an eye on this path, at the moment there is nothing concrete, but I can confirm that Newcastle is also evaluating Thiaw, who, in addition to returning to Germany, would be interested in an experience in the Premier League.”
As a £21m asking price has already been established, Newcastle know the fee it would take and have tracked him for several seasons now, with NUFCBLOG the first to report on our interest in the 23-year-old back in June 2023.
Two years on, he hasn’t quite hit the heights many expected at Milan and has had a few injury issues, but he’s an athletic young centre-back with three caps for Germany and Champions League experience, having impressed in Europe against Newcastle and Spurs in recent seasons.
Newcastle may feel he is worth the risk at £21m, or could this be agents at work to find him another move now he opted against Como for European football?
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