Milan have their new defender, as Malick Thiaw arrives today for his medical, so we look at what the Schalke 04 centre-back can bring to the Serie A champions.
Coach Stefano Pioli confirmed to Sky Sport Italia last night after the 2-0 win over Bologna that a deal had been struck for Thiaw.
He probably won’t complete the transfer until Monday, but is expected to land in Italy today from Germany.
It’s reported the fee will be €6m for the man who only turned 21 earlier this month.
Born in Germany to a Senegalese father and Finnish mother, Thiaw has represented Germany at every youth level.
He is extremely tall, standing at 1.94m (over 6ft 3in), and that strength in the air is something that Milan have been sorely lacking in defence since Simon Kjaer’s knee injury last year.
This is also why the Rossoneri had been pursuing Sven Botman, the Lille defender eventually moving to Newcastle United instead.
Thiaw can also play as a right-back or a defensive midfielder, so has talented feet and is capable of playing his way out from the back.
He has been compared to Liverpool defender Joel Matip in Germany.