Newcastle United have reportedly secured a full verbal agreement with Malick Thiaw over a four-year deal running until 2029, according to reliable German journalist Florian Plettenberg and other sources close to Softfootball.
The 23-year-old German centre-back has agreed on personal terms, but the deal is far from done, with negotiations between Newcastle and AC Milan still ongoing.
SoftFootball understands that Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri is reluctant to let Thiaw go, especially after his standout performances in pre-season, which have cemented his place in the Italian’s plans. Allegri’s shift in stance has made the transfer far trickier than expected.
Transfer expert Florian Plettenberg confirmed the news on his official X account as he said:
“Newcastle have reached a full verbal agreement with Malick Thiaw on a contract until 2029!
“Negotiations between the clubs are ongoing, but Massimiliano Allegri is keen to keep him. The latest offer stood at €30 million. Bayer 04 Leverkusen are monitoring the situation.”
Newcastle’s €30 million bid has already been rejected. Milan value Thiaw much higher reportedly €40–45 million or more and will only consider a truly exceptional offer before even thinking about a sale.
While personal terms are signed off, the two clubs are still miles apart on the fee. Other suitors are hovering in the background, including Bayer Leverkusen and Juventus, who are both keeping a close eye on developments.
Interestingly, just weeks ago, Thiaw looked set for a completely different move a €25 million switch to Como under Cesc Fàbregas’s project. The clubs even agreed on the price, but the defender rejected the move, holding out for a bigger opportunity.
Now, Newcastle are back in the picture and pushing hard, but the road to St James’ Park won’t be straightforward. With Milan digging in and Deadline Day creeping closer, the Magpies may need to significantly raise their offer if they’re serious about prising Thiaw away from the San Siro.
