Malick Thiaw is attracting interest from Bayer Leverkusen and is open to the idea of returning to Germany, according to a report.
As per Bild, Thiaw is a candidate to become the ‘new leader of the defence’ for Leverkusen because Jonathan Tah is leaving this summer on a free transfer. It is expected that he will join Barcelona when his contract expires.
Leverkusen ‘have been following Thiaw for some time’ and could accelerate their pursuit as we approach the summer window. Their sporting director Kim Falkenberg – who has been linked with Milan recently – was there to watch the recent Champions League second leg against Feyenoord.
For Thiaw, it would be a return to Leverkusen given he already played for Bayer’s youth team at the U19 level. He is open to a move to the Bundesliga and his contract with Milan runs until 2027, so it will have two years left come the summer.
The Rossoneri management want an early decision from him: he must either extend his contract or move while his value is high. The fact that Milan are in danger of missing out on European qualification for next season will play a part.
With Bayer, Thiaw is aware that he could probably increase his chances of participating in the 2026 World Cup. He has played three times for the German national team, but he has not been called up since Julian Nagelsmann took over.
The transfer fee for Thiaw will be around €25m, a sum that Leverkusen could fund through the sale of Odilon Kossounou. The defender is currently on loan at Atalanta and could be signed permanently, with an option to buy included.
30M at least… he’s 22yo, he will for sure generate more funds for next teams…
I think 30 M is too low! the prem teams will pay 40M!
I agree. I wouldn’t sell him as imo he’s the best out of our scb’s but no less than 40mil if we were to sell
Milan need strong central back. Malick is Milan player for several years and they know what is his limit. 25 million sale means around 21 million of capital gain, so Milan would cut more than a quarter of next year loss by missing champions league spot.
With Kalulu sale, that is half of needed money. And still we have Saelemaekers, Adli, Colombo, Bennacer, Morata, Okafor, Pobega, he could be sold.
That’s why sale it expensive is crucial and save best players.
Thiaw is a decent Centerback with a good upside. Not sure why we would entertain selling him.
25m is far too low, I’d be a little annoyed if they sold for anything under 35
Sure sell Tomori, Thiaw and Pavlo all together and create problem where there’s non. Same as they did with midfield. Clowns.
Sure this was Gerry idea, suck money