Malick Thiaw, a player Newcastle really wanted and who really wanted them

New York Times

2 days ago

Malick Thiaw really wanted to sign for Newcastle United.
That may read like the most rudimentary of statements but, following a summer of rejections and as their most-prized asset in Alexander Isak continues to pine for Liverpool, it has had an uplifting effect on those inside the club.
Had the Germany international not made his intentions to swap Serie A for the Premier League so clear to Milan, then, according to sources close to the deal — speaking anonymously so they could talk freely, like others throughout — this transfer may never have happened. Certainly not as swiftly as it was concluded in the end, anyway.
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As uncomfortable and disruptive as this transfer window has been, Thiaw's arrival for an up-front fee of €35million (£30.3m; $40.8m) alongside €5m in add-ons concludes Newcastle's three-year search for an eventual successor to Fabian Schar. With the addition of Anthony Elanga ending an interminable hunt for a right-winger, Newcastle have at least reinforced their two long-term problem positions.
Should at least one striker (and potentially two, if Isak leaves) join soon, be it Yoane Wissa or someone else, and a midfielder to replace Sean Longstaff also be acquired, then Newcastle may actually end up bolstering the wider squad at Eddie Howe's disposal. The past two months have not panned out as hoped, but in a roundabout (and largely uneasy) way, Newcastle may still navigate their way out of this summer with greater depth in just about every department — barring centre-forward.
At centre-back, that is undoubtedly true. Having spent last season relying on the ever-dependable Dan Burn and Schar, with Sven Botman struggling to stay fit and Jamaal Lascelles missing for the whole campaign, Howe now boasts a complement of five senior central defenders. All of whom have Champions League experience.
In Thiaw, Newcastle believe they have signed a 'rough gem'; someone who has all the raw ingredients to be an excellent Premier League centre-half but who, aged 24, can still develop significantly under the tutelage of Howe and his coaching staff, and can play across the centre-back positions.
The three-cap Germany international is tall (6ft 4in, 193cm), quick once he gets up to speed, technically proficient, able to play a high line, breaks lines in possession and can switch play with diagonals, which is a key attribute Howe desires in a centre-half.
While there is an acceptance that Thiaw can suffer from lapses in concentration and can still improve every aspect of his game, those drawbacks are actually generating excitement among backroom staff because they believe they will hone the defender's talents.
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Howe is enthused by the addition. Having spent the past season debating whether to prioritise a technical centre-half or a pacy one, Newcastle feel they have acquired someone who can offer both. Thiaw is not as aesthetically pleasing on the ball as Schar or as rapid as Tottenham Hotspur's Micky van de Ven, for example, but he offers a blend.
Newcastle watched Thiaw closely for two years and he has been towards the top of their centre-back wanted list for the past three windows.
Mercifully, there was no repeat of last August's futile (and public) month-long pursuit of Marc Guehi. Newcastle never actually made an approach to Crystal Palace for the England defender this summer, having learned early on that his preference was to move elsewhere.
There was an ambitious pitch made to Dean Huijsen, which is said to have impressed the Spain international's camp, but the defender unsurprisingly opted to trade Bournemouth for Real Madrid. Huijsen's former Bournemouth team-mate, Illia Zabarnyi, was admired by multiple figures inside Newcastle, but they always expected the 22-year-old to join Paris Saint-Germain and were proven right: Zabarnyi joined PSG on Tuesday in a deal worth €63million up front.
Newcastle extensively scouted Atalanta's Giorgio Scalvini and discussed Marseille's Leonardo Balerdi — despite reports, Chelsea's Axel Disasi and Juventus' Nicolo Savona were not under consideration — and they did hold talks with another mystery target in early June (who has yet to leave his present club) before learning they were unattainable.
When Thiaw's proposed €25m move to Como collapsed in early June after the player indicated he did not want that move, Newcastle pivoted towards prioritising the German. By that stage, Max Allegri, Milan's manager, was keen to retain Thiaw. That, alongside Newcastle's desire to spread the fee over multiple years (whereas Como were going to pay in one lump sum), led to Milan increasing their asking price.
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Andy Howe — Newcastle's assistant head of recruitment, who is overseeing incoming business — led the negotiations with Giorgio Furlani, Milan's CEO. The pair were involved in the £55m transfer of Sandro Tonali in 2023. Even following Tonali's subsequent ban for gambling offences, certain figures at Newcastle and Milan have maintained a cordial relationship.
Once Thiaw showed he was 'headstrong' on Newcastle, as one source termed it, talks with Milan progressed smoothly and swiftly — the defender was into the final two years of his contract and had rejected overtures regarding an extension — and they were largely concluded inside 72 hours. Newcastle made an initial offer closer to €30m, but ended up raising it by a guaranteed €5m and a further €5m in add-ons.
Having appeared for the final seven minutes of Milan's 1-1 draw against Leeds United in Dublin on Saturday, Thiaw flew back to Italy, knowing he was to board a plane to Tyneside on Sunday, ahead of his medical on Monday.
As with the majority of new arrivals, Thiaw may take time to adapt to Eddie Howe's demands and methods, especially given Newcastle are stylistically so different to Milan.
While he has primarily been signed as a right-sided centre-half who can compete with (and eventually succeed) Schar, Thiaw is comfortable playing to the left, while in 2022-23 he operated as the middle defender in a back three. Like Botman and Schar, Thiaw can receive possession from either side and does not panic under pressure.
Lascelles has been a tremendous servant and is dependable defensively, but when Schar is absent, Newcastle have lacked a naturally right-footed centre-back who can thread the ball between the lines.
Thiaw is able to play passes which break the first line of defence, either by spreading the ball out into wide areas or finding midfielders centrally.
Under Howe, Schar's delicious diagonals have become a hallmark and although Thiaw is not quite as astute as the former Switzerland defender, the Germany international can still contribute significantly to Newcastle's attacking armoury through his cross-field passing.
Thiaw can improve upon the weight of his passes behind opposition defences, which is another trait of Schar's, but he is capable of sending his team-mates into space.
Defensively, Newcastle's scouts noted how keen he is to engage and thwart attacks. His aerial dominance is a trait Howe values, given he is taller than Schar and Guehi — with a lack of height being one of the main internal recruitment team debating points when it came to the England international.
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He has the potential to be an aggressive and athletic centre-back, which theoretically makes him ideal for the Premier League. Crucially, Thiaw can press high — something which Howe still asks his side to do intensely in certain fixtures — or follow a centre-forward who is dropping deep.
Below is an example of Thiaw's ability to defend in an advanced area against Fiorentina in April.
There are clear areas for improvement, however, which Howe and Newcastle recognise and will work on. Thiaw's one-versus-one defending, the timing of when he jumps towards opponents and his off-the-ball decision-making around the penalty area require refinement.
Mentality-wise, Newcastle have been encouraged by Thiaw's desire to develop — and they have definitely been boosted by his desperation to join.
A striker (or perhaps two) may be required — and quickly — but finally sourcing a right-sided centre-back following a three-year search represents a material milestone in Newcastle's challenging window.
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