The news emerging from Germany regarding Bayer Leverkusen’s imminent signing could well change Malick Thiaw’s future.
The Milan-Leverkusen axis has been quite hot since the end of the 2024/25 season, especially since Igli Tare became the new Milan sports director. He began talks over Granit Xhaka, with a three-year contract worth €4m net per year plus bonuses agreed, and just a transfer fee to sort.
In the opposite direction there has been talk of the possibility of a return to Germany for the former Schalke 04 player Thiaw, to replace Jonathan Tah who moved to Bayern Munich on a free transfer. Now, though, that seems a lot more unlikely.
Quansah in = no Thiaw?
Calciomercato.com write that in the last few hours the Bundesliga runners-up have made a decisive move for Jarrell Quansah. He will require a significant investment too, with a fixed price of €30m plus €5m in potential bonuses.
Fabrizio Romano also speaks of a buy-back clause in favour of the Reds, who would thus maintain ultimate control. It is a deal that partially compensates for the sales of Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz, who headed to Anfield for almost €200m combined.
Thiaw, for the moment, is staying at Milan. The German was close to leaving after a 2024-25 season spent mostly on the sidelines behind Tomori, Gabbia and Pavlovic. Massimiliano Allegri likes him and would like to try to relaunch him at the start of his second Rossoneri spell.
I think Thiaw can still be “saved”. It’s Tomori that needs to be moved on. Sell Tomori to the PL or Arabia for 25M, and bring in Leoni. Next year our CBs will be Pavlovic, Leoni, Gabbia and Thiaw. Bartesghi can mix in too, if needed.
I firmly believe with Allegri, Thaiw will become a regular German International, they gave has everything, his physical attributes are easily above average, he just needs guidance and support and he will thrive of that there can be no question.
It would not surprise me if Allegri has informed the management that Thaiw is very much in his plans
Agreed Tomori doesnt have a higher level, while Thiaw probably hasn’t hit his ceiling.
Ambitious assuming we will get Leoni , the press reports say one thing but with Chivu at Inter I could see them snatching him from us.
They are 2 different types of defenders, Pavlovic and Tomori are more physical/defensive, while Gabbia and Thiaw are more distributers and go mostly for headers/clearances…
Best comparison are the Liverpool duo… Konate and Virgil
Thiaw can never be Tomori, nor can Tomori emulate Thiaw… they are just a different breed. Pavlovic-Gabbia worked for this reason in back 4… there was balance in their characteristics.
Since we are linked with Leoni, it’s hard to say who should leave… I see Tomori also coming back in form under Allegri and Thiaw can generate another 30-35M after 30M from Theo…
Modric cost us nothing, while Xhaka will be closed at 15M… Guerra for 20M and another CM/CDM would complete us (Ricci?)… Bondo, Fofana, Adli/Pobega (Allegri will keep one of them, imo)
Most important is gonna be the starting RB and LB…
Been saying this all season. Thiaw have a much higher ceiling then Tomori and is much better with the ball.
Sell Tomori and bring in Leoni. Pavlovic, Thiaw, Gabbia and Leoni would be a really good cb lineup for 25/26 season.
I want fans to accept that this team is not a 7th place team. This team should be in the top 4 or be competing for the top spot last season. Do not make the mental decision to even consider this team to be worse than any of the top 4 teams in Italy.
This means Milan’s CB are really good, I believe the problem is that there are certain players who cannot be motivated anymore by a coach and the coaches who came in were either unqualified to achieve this teams objectives or they were given little time to get their philosophy through to the players.
I sincerely believe that Reijnders mentally gave up during certain key games last season, I also believe certain players were asked to do certain things they are not good at doing. Then you have certain players who are not as motivated as other to perform. I could see it during some very key games this season. But those players were all talented enough to get this team to the top of the league no doubt.
So I believe whatever happens this transfer market, my objectives are still the same. Winning titles and the guys who are supposedly being targeted can do a job. But it will be a question of, are they motivated and will the coach get the best out of the talent that is available.
You my friend are true and sincere in voicing your opinions and I wholeheartedly agree.
Everything last season was a shambles as there was no identifiable plan, it was all ad-hoc, players did not know their role and even if they did it would change following week.
This why I believe that the upcoming season will be the polar opposite, Allegri will have calculated and planned for everything, it will be a straight battle with Conte for superiority
Woww 35m for quansah ?? EPL club really know how to explode the money. The Germany club know how to buy some players. They are analysis with videos etc. That why they walk away from leao + thiaw.
Leao too lazy and thiaw too many own goals. 😂🤣😄
Quansah is a mediocre player. German clubs have money, but rarely buy from Serie A.