EXCLUSIVE: Newcastle reignite interest in Malick Thiaw after £50m demands last summer

Newcastle United have reignited their interest in Malick Thiaw following an 18-month pursuit of the AC Milan centre-back.

As we revealed in a NUFCBlog exclusive last June, Newcastle have been tracking the highly-rated German for some time, with Thiaw shortlisted by club scouts during the 2022/23 season.

Newcastle have been in the market for a young right-sided centre-back over the past three transfer windows, but spending limitations and Milan's demands - thought to be around the £50m mark last summer - proved too much following an enquiry 12 months ago.

A year on, we remain on the lookout for an athletic option able to compete with and eventually replace Fabian Schar, but Tosin Adarabioyo's decision to ditch Tyneside for Stamford Bridge forced a shift in plans earlier this month, seeing Thiaw come back into the equation.

While he remains a key asset to AC Milan, it's hoped Thiaw's stock may have dropped slightly following an up and down season for the 22-year-old, where the former Schalke talent suffered a serious hamstring injury in December that saw him miss two and a half months of the campaign.

Thiaw returned to full fitness in February, but only started eight of Milan's final 14 league games, with 24-year-old Italian Matteo Gabbia often partnering Fikayo Tomori; another name that has been linked with Newcastle in recent weeks.

It remains a tough deal to complete, especially when the majority of our budget is likely to be spent on a quality right winger. However, Newcastle are huge fans of the German and have tracked him for the best part of 18 months.

The club have made a habit of buying the 'dip' in recent windows - Alexander Isak, Tino Livramento and Anthony Gordon all arrived on the back of difficult seasons - and Thiaw ticks so many boxes in our long-term pursuit of a right-sided centre-back, offering athleticism, front-footed defending and quality in possession.

Elsewhere, Newcastle have enjoyed an active start to their summer recruitment drive at youth level. Teenage midfielder CJ Afumuzor will join our Academy ranks after the club beat Man Utd, Aston Villa and Brighton to a deal for the Portsmouth talent, 16-year-old centre-back Aaron Epia has signed a contract after impressing on trial from Everton and the club remain in talks with Blackburn over a deal for Irish talent Rory Finneran.