Newcastle United given green clearance to conduct transfer hijack after £21 million ‘deal off’.

Newcastle United have virtually been given the go-ahead to sign one of their centre-back targets for £21 million, but will they do so?

Last month, AC Milan accepted a proposal of £21 million for Newcastle transfer target Malick Thiaw. The bid came from Como, which is handled by Cesc Fabregas.

Despite Milan accepting the bid, the move was postponed because Thiaw preferred to leave his options open.

Newcastle were connected with the 23-year-old centre-back last summer, as Eddie Howe sought to bolster his defensive line.

A year later, Howe is still seeking for a center-back, and Newcastle’s prospects are considerably worse, with Lloyd Kelly departing the club to join Juventus.

The Magpies will try to acquire a centre-back this summer after reportedly landing their main target, right-winger Anthony Elanga, from Nottingham Forest this week. Newcastle attempted to buy Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace last summer, but their interest has since cooled.

Thiaw has 85 matches for AC Milan and three caps for Germany. However, Newcastle had doubts after declining a deal last summer in favor of pursuing Guehi.

Milan is also looking to sell the German for the second summer in a row, this time for a lower price.

AC Milan accepts Malick Thiaw’s transfer proposal.

Milan accepted a £21 million bid from Como last month, but after weeks of deliberation, Thiaw has finally rejected the offer.

Over the weekend, transfer analyst Fabrizio Romano gave an update on Thiaw’s unclear status.

“Malick Thiaw, expected to make a decision on his future by mid next week with Como waiting for an answer on their proposal,” according to Romano. “The deal between Como and AC Milan for a €25 million [£21 million] package was confirmed two weeks ago. Still up to Malick.”

In a follow-up statement, Romano stated that Thiaw had rejected Como’s proposal.

He wrote: “Malick Thiaw will NOT join Como, deal off after defender rejects offering. AC Milan agreed to a €25 million price with Como, but talks are now over.”

In principle, Newcastle or any other interested party may rush in and strike a deal knowing the sum Milan is willing to accept.

According to Italian journalist Matteo Morretto, Thiaw has postponed a move to Como because he wants to play in a European tournament, with Newcastle United mentioned as a possible destination. AC Milan failed to qualify for Europe after placing ninth in Serie A and runners-up to Bologna in the Coppa Italia.

Newcastle will compete in the Champions League again this season, and Howe will aim to bolster his team in order to adjust to a more rigorous schedule.

Eddie Howe comments on Malick Thiaw’s interest.

When asked about Newcastle’s interest in Thiaw last summer, head coach Howe said the defender is ‘a very excellent player’ but did neither confirm or deny it.

“I’m always reluctant to comment on these things [transfer speculation],”

Newcastle United may now have the last laugh over Bryan Mbeumo and Manchester United after development.

Newcastle United attempted and failed to recruit Bryan Mbeumo, and he has yet to conclude a move to Manchester United.

Newcastle chose against signing Bryan Mbeumo because to his high cost, despite initially being Eddie Howe’s primary target. Newcastle were taken aback by Mbeumo’s wage demands, while his asking price was considered excessive.

Mbeumo’s desire to play for Manchester United led to his decision to stay at Brentford. The Magpies have moved on, with Anthony Elanga likely to sign.

Mbeumo’s transfer to Manchester United has still not been completed.

LEICESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 21: Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo looks on during the Premier League match between Leicester City FC and Brentford FC at The King Power Stadium on February 21, 2025 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images)

Newcastle United could prevent Manchester United from signing Bryan Mbeumo.

Incredibly, Newcastle United may have the opportunity to entirely derail that transfer.

Newcastle is looking to sign a striker after completing a deal for Elanga. Newcastle are considering Yoane Wissa, with the forward regarded as someone to ‘keep an eye on’ by Toon fans.

According to Sky Sports, Brentford is unlikely to move Wissa and Mbeumo this summer, making Manchester United a potential target for the 28-year-old.

With only one of them poised to leave the Gtech Community Stadium, Newcastle has an opportunity to sign the striker they need while also having the final laugh on Mbeumo.

However, Toon officials will have to act quickly as Manchester United continues to press for Mbeumo’s arrival at Old Trafford. They might land Newcastle’s main summer target in the Cameroon international, preventing Wissa from transferring to the North East. That would be a double disappointment for Eddie Howe.

Newcastle United faces competition to sign Yoane Wissa.

While there is the added incentive of potentially disrupting Manchester United’s transfer plans by signing Wissa, Newcastle will have competition for his services.

According to Sky Sports, Tottenham Hotspur are interested in Wissa, and they have previously considered bringing Mbeumo to north London

Spurs are allegedly looking into if a trade is conceivable, and they may have an advantage over Newcastle. That’s because a move to Tottenham would allow Wissa to rejoin with Thomas Frank, who was just named Ange Postecoglou’s replacement.

If Newcastle United are serious about using Wissa to solve their striker problem, they must act quickly. The Mbeumo scenario complicates everything, and Spurs might also get in the way.

Newcastle have investigated alternatives such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ollie Watkins.

First image as Anthony Elanga arrives at Newcastle United to secure £55 million signing

Anthony Elanga is getting a physical ahead of his £55 million move from Nottingham Forest.

Anthony Elanga has landed in Newcastle to complete his £55 million transfer from Nottingham Forest to Newcastle United.

The Swede arrived at Newcastle Airport from Portugal this afternoon after the two teams reached an agreement on a contract to make the winger the club’s first summer acquisition.

Newcastle will pay Forest up to £55 million, including add-ons, to secure the services of the former Manchester United player. Elanga is said to have already reached personal terms with the club.

The forward arrived at Newcastle’s Benton training base earlier this evening, having rushed from the airport where he had landed on a private plane. Sky Sports captured footage of the footballer in a casual brown top and shorts outfit.

Newcastle do not expect any problems with the medical. Elanga has had an excellent run of fitness over the last two years, appearing in every Premier League game as Forest qualified for Europe.

Elanga is known as one of the Premier League’s fittest and fastest players, clocking 10.93 seconds in a 100-meter run in Portugal before moving to Tyneside.

The player has now been sent to a facility in the Northeast, where he will undergo a variety of medical testing.

He is set to be formally unveiled as a Newcastle player within the next 48 hours and will join the squad on their pre-season training camp in Austria.

Elanga is already close friends with Newcastle forward William Osula, with the two seen vacationing together last week. He considers international teammate Alexander Isak and fellow Swede Emil Krafth to be close friends.

Elanga will compete with Jacob Murphy for a starting position on the right flank, but he can also play centrally and on the left.

He joins Sandro Tonali as Newcastle’s joint most expensive signing in history, costing £55 million. Isak is the club’s record signing, costing £63 million.