Sky Sports’ Keith Downie suggested earlier this week that Newcastle will turn their attention to signing a striker now Anthony Elanga is in the building and set to be unveiled imminently.
However, we can’t help but feel a centre-back should be the next priority, with our ageing pool of current options featuring three over 30 and a certain Dutchman who hasn’t long recovered from ACL surgery.
Updates have arrived on potential targets in this position, starting with The Mail’s Craig Hope, who reveals that two overseas targets include Atalanta’s Giorgio Scalvini (21) and Marseille captain Leonardo Balerdi (26).
He reports that both have big admirers on Tyneside and hints at formal approaches for the pair over the coming weeks, although it may be tricky to land Scalvini given Atalanta’s reported reluctance to sell the highly-rated Italian.
Moving back to domestic options, Hope insists that Newcastle haven’t completely stepped away from long-term target Marc Guehi, claiming a deal for the Crystal Palace skipper could be resurrected if Crystal Palace reduce their demands.
Liverpool had been tipped to land the 24-year-old earlier this month, but talk of a move to Merseyside has gone quiet, with Ibrahima Konate’s uncertain future a potential sticking point as Guehi ponders his next step.
Last but not least, AC Milan’s Malick Thiaw is back on the market and available for a potential bargain at £21m, with Fabrizio Romano confirming the German international will NOT join Como.
The ambitious Serie A side had agreed a £21m deal with Milan, who’ve dropped out of Europe ahead of the 2025/26 season, but Thiaw has turned down the move and talks are off.
Newcastle were heavily linked with a move for the former Schalke star last summer, with NUFC Blog the first to reveal our interest in the 23-year-old back in June 2023.
🚨❌ Malick Thiaw will NOT join Como, deal off after the defender rejected the proposal.
AC Milan agreed €25m fee with Como but talks now over. pic.twitter.com/YSS7ucvzLV
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 9, 2025
