Some encouraging reports have emerged from Italy this morning on Newcastle United’s ongoing pursuit of AC Milan centre-back Malick Thiaw; who AC Milan are already looking to replace.
After MilanLive.it state that we are ‘seriously trying’ to strike a deal for the 22-year-old, Gazzetta dello Sport say the ‘feeling is that it will be done’, believing the player will be ‘on his way to Newcastle’.
Of course, a fee must be agreed with the Serie A giants and it was suggested just a few days ago that our valuation of £25m fell short of their £35m asking price, but Gazzetta reveal that Toon chiefs are now ‘ready for the final assault’ in a bid to secure the German international. Hopefully that is a sign we’re prepared to get this deal done in the next round of talks.
To add further encouragement, a journalist from the same outlet – Gazzetta’s Luca Bianchin – is reporting that Milan are ‘very close’ to signing RB Salzburg centre-back Strahinja Pavlović, believing the giant Serbian will seal a €20m move to the San Siro in the next 48 hours.
It remains to be seen if he’s considered a direct replacement for Thiaw, but it offers more hope that things are moving in the right direction, with movement expected if and when Newcastle get closer to that £35m asking price.
