Overview

• AC Milan turned down Newcastle United’s formal €30 million bid for 22-year-old defender Malick Thiaw on August 7
• The club raised Thiaw’s valuation to around €35 million after he declined an earlier €25 million move to Como
• Massimiliano Allegri has earmarked Thiaw as a key component of his three-man defence for the coming Serie A season
• Newcastle may return with a higher bid to meet Milan’s updated asking price
• Milan is simultaneously pursuing midfielder Zachary Athekame and weighing potential departures of Samuel Chukwueze and Yunus Musah