Just in: Man Utd more likely to sign ‘unbelievable’ behemoth than Bayern this summer

Bayern Munich have ruled out a summer move for Newcastle United’s 6′ 4″ centre-back Malick Thiaw, leaving Manchester United in pole position to secure the Germany international.

Sources close to the Bundesliga champions insist that Vincent Kompany’s squad is already stocked at centre-half, with Jonathan Tah, Dayot Upamecano, Hiroki Itō and Kim Min-jae forming a complete quartet. Bavarian bosses told CF Bayern Insider that any defensive reinforcement is contingent on one of those four departing, and stressed that reports linking Thiaw to the Allianz Arena are wide of the mark.

“It is NOT TRUE: Bayern are interested in signing Malick Thiaw this summer,” the head of sport at BILD said emphatically. “Of course, he’s an interesting player. He’s already played for the German national team, and if they’re searching for a new centre-back, Thiaw has a profile that’s of great interest. I know the player quite well, but at the moment, it doesn’t make any sense to bring the 24-year-old to Munich because of Jonathan Tah and Dayot Upamecano.”

The stance leaves Manchester United as the most credible suitor. United are expected to hunt for a reliable starting centre-back after persistent injury problems hampered Lisandro Martínez over the past two campaigns. While Leny Yoro and Martínez remain the preferred first-choice pairing on paper, the club’s medical staff have been unable to keep the Argentine on the pitch consistently, prompting recruitment staff to scour the market for durability and presence.

Thiaw, who has missed only eight club and country matches across the last two seasons, fits that brief. The former AC Milan defender has impressed teammates at St James’ Park; fellow Newcastle summer arrival Nick Woltemade lauded him as “unbelievable” after a dominant two-goal display against Everton, joking that “we’re always making jokes about how he can’t head—but today he scores two.”

Although a return to Germany could theoretically boost Thiaw’s national-team minutes, sources indicate the player is content on Tyneside. Yet with Bayern stepping back, Manchester United’s interest becomes the most compelling narrative of the summer window.