Malick Thiaw said he will let Como know soon as they await an answer, but the hypothesis of him staying at AC Milan is far from a remote one.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Milan and Como are expecting a final answer by midweek from Thiaw. The club by the lake would give the defender a contract of €4m per season and for him they would pay Milan a figure close to €25m, which would be invested in a replacement.
Massimiliano Allegri’s press conference confirmed the rumours about how he views the central defenders. Strahinja Pavlovic is being watched closely by Max, who wants to try to coach him and understand if his great physical qualities can be combined with a defensive focus not yet seen.
Fikayo Tomori could keep him company, even if the pair did poorly last season. Igli Tare really likes Tomori, he knows how to be aggressive but he needs to improve inside the area, especially in marking with too many mistakes in the last 12 months.
The negotiations with Juve and Tottenham for the transfer are behind us, however, and Tomori is happy with the way he is. He has always said he wants to stay, unless the club shows him the door of course.
Matteo Gabbia performed well last season alongside Thiaw and, among defenders, was the most consistent. He doesn’t have great physical qualities but he is attentive, good at reading the game and more than capable with the ball at his feet. His Milanismo is an example for team-mates too.
Thiaw is therefore the ‘most expendable and probably the most transferable’ of the four. He’s young, has excellent physical qualities, and is highly regarded in the Premier League and the Bundesliga. The world is well aware that Nagelsmann previously called him up for the German national team.
Thiaw is an exemplary player in terms of his behaviour and faces the ‘first major dilemma of his career’. Should he stay at Milan, risking starting on the bench, or move to Como, a small but wealthy and rapidly growing club? When in doubt, consider the third option: a transfer abroad.
