Liverpool and Manchester United are both tracking Newcastle United centre-back Malick Thiaw as they begin planning major defensive overhauls for 2027.
The 25-year-old Germany international has impressed since joining St James’ Park from AC Milan in 2025 and has established himself as a regular under Matthias Jaissle. His Premier League experience, physical presence and ability to defend large spaces have made him an attractive option for two clubs seeking long-term solutions at the heart of defence.
Liverpool face United competition
According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool view Thiaw as one potential long-term successor to Virgil van Dijk. Manchester United are also monitoring his progress closely. No formal contact has been made, but both clubs are expected to continue scouting him throughout the season.
The interest from Anfield is logical. Van Dijk remains a pivotal figure, yet at 35 the club must prepare for life without their captain. Ronald Araújo is currently on loan from Barcelona and could be signed permanently, but Andoni Iraola may still want another centre-back entering his prime years.
United, meanwhile, expect defence to be a priority next summer amid uncertainty over the long-term futures of Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martínez and Matthijs de Ligt.
Newcastle’s stance
The biggest obstacle is Newcastle themselves. The Magpies have no intention of selling Thiaw and would demand in the region of £65–70 million. Sporting director Ross Wilson has previously acknowledged the importance of strategic player trading to the club’s model, following significant sales this summer.
Why Thiaw fits Liverpool
At 6ft 4in, Thiaw offers aerial dominance and physical strength while retaining the recovery pace needed to cover the spaces that can open up behind Iraola’s aggressive defensive line. His existing Premier League experience is a clear advantage — Liverpool would not be spending £65–70m on a player still adapting to English football.
A partnership with Araújo could form the foundations of Liverpool’s post-Van Dijk defence. Both are physically imposing, comfortable defending one-on-one, and young enough to remain key figures for several seasons.
The fee remains the obvious concern. £70m is a substantial outlay for a centre-back, particularly if Liverpool also exercise their £47m option on Araújo. Replacing a player of Van Dijk’s calibre was never going to come cheap, however.
