United identify 6’4 PL brute as “top target” to transform the defence, it’s terrible news for Harry Maguire – report

Manchester United have identified Newcastle United powerhouse Malick Thiaw as the “top target” to revamp their defence this summer, according to a bombshell new report.

Defensive Reinforcements

Despite last season being plagued by the worst goal-scoring metrics in the club’s recent history, United have been transformed this campaign into one of the Premier League’s best attacking sides.

Only the top two – Arsenal and Manchester City – have scored more than the Red Devils, while the team’s xG (expected goals) is even closer to their rivals. However, the opposite end of the pitch has proven far less effective, with just Bournemouth (45) having conceded more goals than United (37) in the top ten.

United have looked more defensively robust since Michael Carrick took the reins in the wake of Ruben Amorim’s departure. However, across the former midfielder’s first five games, five goals have still been conceded.

The future of defensive stalwart Harry Maguire also remains uncertain, with the 32-year-old Englishman’s contract set to expire at the end of the season. Talks are ongoing over an extension, but a breakthrough has yet to be found.

Furthermore, Matthijs de Ligt – arguably United’s best player at the start of the season – has been sidelined for nearly three months with an ongoing back issue. The Dutchman’s career has been plagued by injury prior to arriving at Old Trafford.

It makes sense, therefore, to prioritise a new centre-back this summer, if Maguire is to depart and concerns over De Ligt persist, with a shock raid on Newcastle now on the cards.

The German Tank

Sports Boom reveals United are lining up Thiaw as their first-choice target this summer, after the Germany international’s impressive start to life in the Premier League.

Signed from AC Milan for an initial £30 million in the summer, the 24-year-old centre-half has shone at the heart of Newcastle United’s defence in an otherwise difficult campaign at St James’ Park.

Thiaw stands an imposing 6’4″, with a powerful frame and is outstanding in the air – at both ends of the pitch, as he has scored four times this season. He is also solid in possession, capable of playing out from the back, though it is not the strongest part of his game.

In short, he would be a perfect replacement for Maguire, offering the same physical dominance the Englishman does, with a great age profile and Premier League experience.

However, Newcastle United would demand an exorbitant fee to prise him away from Tyneside, though the Magpies look almost certain to miss out on Champions League qualification, leaving them vulnerable to raids on their best players from bigger teams – inside and outside of England.

This has led United to also identify Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon as two other options to bolster the squad at Old Trafford. Bayern Munich are closely tracking Thiaw, while Liverpool are also admirers as the Merseyside club plan to fix their leaky defence.

However, INEOS are understood to see the German as the “future of the Red Devils’ defence”, with a drive to convert the team from pretenders into contenders this summer with a major overhaul across the pitch.

Final Thoughts

Thiaw is undoubtedly an excellent defender, who is Premier League proven and offers the potent pairing of speed, strength and size every elite centre-back in world football possesses. There are question marks over his distribution, but pairing him alongside a player like Lisandro Martinez would assuage these concerns.

However, United’s budget will be finite this summer, and Newcastle United will demand a king’s ransom to lose one of their new stars to a rival they despise so much. From this perspective, Thiaw is unlikely to be a sensible signing, even if he is a very sensible target.

Featured image Shaun Botterill via Getty Images

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