Sky Sports Italia amongst those reporting on this, saying Newcastle United has recently made renewed contact with AC Milan, with the intention of signing the defender.
The broadcaster said that a formal bid from Newcastle United is expected imminently, with AC Milan valuing the 22-year-old at a figure of at least €40m (approx £33.6m).
Newcastle also in talks with Malick Thiaw’s agents regarding personal terms, according to various Italian media.
A story running alongside the Malick Thiaw (potentially) set to join Newcastle United, is AC Milan having agreed terms with RB Salzburg’s Strahinja Pavlovic, another central defender. Personal terms are reported to have been agreed and AC Milan trying to now agree a transfer fee with the Austrian club, which is likely to be around half the €40m+ they value Malick Thiaw at.
Malick Thiaw turns 23 ahead of the new Premier League season and is a central defender who has made 65 league appearances for Schalke and AC Milan.
He moved from the Bundesliga to Serie A in 2022 and has made rapid progress, including leading to call-ups for the German national side.
Malick Thiaw made four Champions League appearances in the 2022/23 season playing in the AC Milan team with Sandro Tonali, as the Italian side reached the semi-finals.
Then this latest 2023/24 season he started all five of the Champions League games he was available for, including the goalless draw in the San Siro against Newcastle United.
He missed the game at St James’ Park in December when out for two and a half months with a hamstring injury.
As a 22-year-old 6ft 4 centre-back who can also play right-back and as a defensive midfielder, Malick Thiaw certainly ticks a lot of the boxes when it comes to the profile of a player Eddie Howe and Newcastle United could be interested in.
A young right-sided central defender has been on the cards for a while, with Fabian Schar set to turn 33 in December, whilst Jamaal Lascelles is set to turn 31 in November and isn’t expected back for some time as he recovers from a big operation. The pair also have only one more year left on their contracts as things stand.
As well as his playing profile on the pitch, with his age, Malick Thiaw will have his biggest earning days ahead of him so you wouldn’t imagine any problems on that front in terms of agreeing wages.
You would also anticipate that after the Sandro Tonali transfer last summer, Newcastle United will already have easy communication lines with AC Milan, if indeed this reported initial interest is pursued.
The media in England have increasingly reported that Eddie Howe’s two big targets in this transfer window now, are a right-footed central defender and a versatile attacking player to play wide right, but is also able to play through the middle.
