Newcastle have ended their long search for a right-back after agreeing a £35m deal for Malick Thiaw from AC Milan. The 24-year-old defender, who stands 1.93m tall, arrived in England for a medical after a flight on Sunday evening. Thiaw expressed his delight at Newcastle's choice, saying he is ready for the Premier League.
Milan had been keen to keep Thiaw, but he has expressed a strong desire to move to Newcastle. He is expected to provide strong competition for Fabian Schär and can also play at right-back or defensive midfielder. Thiaw's arrival marks the end of Newcastle's interest in Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi, followed by uncertainty over the future of striker Alexander Isak, who is seeking a move to Liverpool.
A deal for Brentford striker Yoane Wissa is expected to be completed this week, while Newcastle have also expressed an interest in Porto striker Samu Aghehowa, who scored 27 goals in 45 games last season. He has a release clause of €100m. Isak is expected to continue training separately from his team-mates.
Coach Eddie Howe said he only wants players who "they really want to play for this football club" and has hinted that last season's top scorer will not feature in Saturday's clash with Aston Villa. West Ham have also begun preparations for a bid for Southampton midfielder Mateus Fernandes. Manager Graham Potter has expressed a desire to bring energy and creativity to the midfield but has yet to make any signings this summer. West Ham are evaluating a number of midfielders, including Aston Villa's Jacob Ramsey, with Fernandes identified as a top target.
