adminLiverpool are reportedly preparing to compete with Manchester United for the signature of Newcastle United defender Malick Thiaw, with fresh comments from Magpies sporting director Ross Wilson potentially offering the Reds encouragement in their pursuit of the Germany international.
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola currently has five centre-back options available in Jeremy Jacquet, Giovanni Leoni, Ronald Araujo, Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez when everyone is fit and available.
However, there is uncertainty surrounding the club’s defensive options beyond the current campaign. Van Dijk and Gomez are both approaching the final months of their contracts, while Araujo is only at Anfield on loan from Barcelona for the 2026/27 season.
Liverpool also have two young defenders in Jacquet, 21, and Leoni, just 19, meaning Iraola could be looking for an experienced addition to strengthen his defence next summer.
According to CaughtOffSide, Liverpool have already begun considering potential replacements for Van Dijk and have identified Newcastle’s Thiaw as one of their preferred targets.
The report claims Manchester United are also monitoring the 25-year-old centre-back, although there has reportedly been no direct contact or formal discussions between Thiaw, Newcastle and either Premier League club at this stage.
Newcastle are believed to have no desire to sell the defender, who would reportedly command a fee in the region of £65 million to £70 million.
Ross Wilson comments offer Liverpool encouragement
Thiaw has been with Newcastle since the summer of 2025 after completing a move from AC Milan. The defender still has a contract with the Magpies running until 2029, putting Newcastle in a strong negotiating position should interest intensify.
Despite that, Wilson’s latest comments suggest Newcastle could be open to selling some of their biggest names if the circumstances are right.
The sporting director explained that player trading is an important part of building a successful Premier League club, potentially giving Liverpool hope that Thiaw could become available in the future.
Wilson said, as quoted by ESPN: “If you want to be a successful club in the Premier League, you have to trade players and if you don’t the chances are you won’t be a successful club in the Premier League.
“This is what we’ve got to do.
“And if you don’t do it, then just keep the squad you’ve got and forevermore they’ll grow old, achieve less and leave for nothing.”
Wilson also stressed that Newcastle want to maintain a sense of ambition and excitement around the club.
“I think we want Newcastle United to be a club with anticipation and excitement,” he added.
“If we’re not, it probably means we’re doing it wrong.”
Reflecting on Newcastle’s previous transfer window, Wilson insisted that the club’s activity had largely followed its plans, despite the disappointment of losing a key player.
“[This summer] never felt chaotic inside,” he said.
“There is no point us pretending otherwise — we did not want to lose Bruno Guimarães.
“That was really disappointing that we got to that place in the end.
“We were happy where we got to in terms of numbers but that was not part of our plan.
“But everything else that happened during the window was part of the plan.”
For Liverpool, the comments could be significant. Newcastle may not currently want to part ways with Thiaw, but Wilson’s stance indicates that even important players could eventually be sold if doing so fits the club’s long-term strategy.
With Liverpool and Manchester United reportedly monitoring the situation, Thiaw’s future could become one of the Premier League’s more intriguing transfer stories ahead of next summer.
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