West Ham United want to bring Schalke defender Malick Thiaw to the Premier League but, according to Tuttomercatoweb, David Moyes will face competition from AC Milan and Napoli.
Nearly two years ago, Thiaw admitted that he was flattered to attract interest from none other than Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
“Of course you’re happy when big clubs are after you,” the 6ft 3ins centre-back told Schalke’s official website.
“But it was actually clear to me that I would stay at Schalke.”
The cynics would argue that Thiaw made the wrong decision.
Schalke, after all, would be relegated for the first time in half a century just one year later.
On the other hand, the Germany U21 international has made nearly 40 league appearances since the start of the 2020/21 season.
Schalke may not be the Champions League-chasing force of old. But, at the Veltins Arena, Thiaw is enjoying the sort of regular first-team football that would probably have been beyond him at Anfield.
Will West Ham snatch Malick Thiaw from Liverpool?
So with West Ham, Napoli and AC Milan making a move for Thiaw during the final week of the January transfer window, the 20-year-old once again has a decision to make.
According to Sky Italia, Liverpool are back in contention too.
But will Thiaw do like in April 2020 and commit his future to a promotion-pushing Schalke? Or does he jump ship this time around?
He’s a more experienced, mature footballer than he was two years ago. The injury-enforced absence of Angelo Ogbonna, and Issa Diop’s ongoing malaise, mean that Thiaw could swap Gelshenkirchen for London’s East End and still keep himself busy on Saturday afternoons.
David Moyes has made no secret of his desire to bring in defensive reinforcements this month. And Thiaw should come a lot cheaper than the likes of Duje Caleta-Car and Nathan Ake.
It is understood that Schalke want around £8 million for the Dusseldorf-born academy graduate.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
