Newcastle United's Potential Newcomer: A Closer Look at Malick Thiaw and His Fit for the Club
Newcastle United has made a strategic move in the transfer market, signing Germany international Malick Thiaw from AC Milan for a fee of £35 million ($47 million). The 23-year-old defender is expected to join the club ahead of the Premier League opener at Aston Villa on Saturday.
Thiaw's arrival is a testament to Newcastle's recent approach of targeted, quality reinforcements that consider budget, squad dynamics, and Champions League aspirations. The club has been cautious about escalating wages that could unsettle existing players and impact team harmony.
The new signing is a response to the age of Newcastle's current central defenders, with Jamaal Lascelles and Fabian Schar both over 30. Thiaw, with years to improve and plenty of resale value, is the perfect age to develop under Head Coach Eddie Howe.
Thiaw's impressive passing abilities, with high percentiles for overall pass completion, short passes, medium passes, and long passes in Europe's top five leagues, make him a versatile player. He can play centrally, at fullback, or in midfield, offering flexibility to the Newcastle squad.
With Thiaw, Newcastle has completed its mission to strengthen in goal, defence, and at right-midfield this summer. The club has also signed Anthony Elanga and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale on loan from Southampton.
However, Newcastle United is still a long way from being fully prepared for the season. The club is considering a return to its previous transfer strategy of signing "plug in and play" players with Premier League experience. They have missed out on similar profile players like Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko, and many of the targets they moved for, including Joao Pedro, Bryan Mbeumo, and Dean Huijsen, opted for clubs with more history.
Three weeks remain in the transfer window for Newcastle to find new midfielders and potentially a new strikeforce. The arrival of Malick Thiaw offers more than just hope for Newcastle United's season. He is seen as a long-term successor to Fabian Schar, who remains one of the greatest bargains in the club's modern history.
Thiaw and Sven Botman could form a central defensive partnership for years, providing a solid foundation for the Magpies' future. The signing of Malick Thiaw is a strategic move that aligns with Newcastle's current transfer approach, balancing financial pragmatism and the need for players with the right temperament and mentality.
In the realm of football, Newcastle United's recent transfer of Malick Thiaw from AC Milan demonstrates their strategic pursuit of quality reinforcements, aligning with their budget, squad dynamics, and aspirations for the Champions League. With Thiaw's versatility, both in terms of playing position and age, he promises to develop and strengthen Newcastle's defence under Head Coach Eddie Howe, particularly amid the aging central defenders, Jamaal Lascelles and Fabian Schar. The club's pursuit continues, however, as they look to secure new midfielders and potentially a new strikeforce in the remaining weeks of the transfer window, with the aim of solidifying their team for the upcoming season.
