Newcastle United Nears Signing of AC Milan Defender Malick Thiaw
Newcastle United is on the verge of signing AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw.
The center-back is scheduled to arrive in Tyneside on Sunday night to finalize his transfer to St James' Park.
Newcastle has missed out on several targets this summer, including Benjamin Sesko, Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro, and James Trafford, but Thiaw is eager to join the club.
The Germany international is set to undergo a medical examination before completing a deal reportedly worth up to £34.62 million (€40 million), including potential add-ons.
Acquiring a new center-back has been a priority for Newcastle this summer as manager Eddie Howe aims to enhance competition and reduce the average age of an experienced squad.
Although Howe did not comment specifically on Thiaw over the weekend, he has previously described the 24-year-old as a "very good player."
Howe expressed optimism about making progress in the transfer market ahead of Newcastle's opening match against Aston Villa on Saturday.
"I have been hopeful for several weeks," he stated on Friday night. "As I have mentioned numerous times, everyone behind the scenes has been working incredibly hard and is very eager to achieve some movement in the transfer market.
"However, it is challenging, and the right player must be acquired at the right price. Several conditions must align for a transfer to be successful.
"I believe we can still assemble a very strong team. We recognize that the balance of the squad is not ideal, and we hope to rectify that with some signings we are aiming to make. Let's see how things develop."