The short answer
Malick Thiaw (£5.0m) deserves serious consideration because he can return through more than Newcastle clean sheets. The Premier League's own club-by-club FPL selection named him Newcastle's best Fantasy pick, citing four league goals and 24 defensive-contribution points in 2025/26.
He then reinforced the set-piece side of that profile by captaining Newcastle and scoring against Bayer Leverkusen in the final pre-season weekend.
| Route | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Price | £5.0m |
| Goals | 4 league goals in 2025/26 |
| DefCon | 24 points in 2025/26 |
| Pre-season | Captain and scorer v Leverkusen |
| Minutes | Senior centre-back role |
Why the scoring profile is attractive
The new defensive-contribution scoring reduces the all-or-nothing nature of centre-backs. Thiaw can score through clean sheets, aerial/set-piece threat and high defensive volume.
Newcastle recorded only eight clean sheets last season, so any defensive improvement would add another route on top of the points he already generated elsewhere.
Thiaw versus attacking full-backs
| Profile | Advantage | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Thiaw | Goals + DefCon + secure CB role | Less open-play attacking involvement |
| Attacking full-back | Higher assist ceiling | Can carry more rotation/fitness risk |
| Premium defender | Better clean-sheet environment | Costs more budget |
What the final friendly tells us
Newcastle's official lineup had Thiaw captaining the side against Leverkusen alongside Sven Botman. Captaincy is not an FPL statistic, but together with regular senior starts it supports the minutes-security case. His goal adds further evidence that he remains a set-piece target.
Related on OneFPL
OneFPL verdict
Thiaw is a genuine £5.0m shortlist defender. He is particularly appealing to managers who want defensive-contribution points rather than relying entirely on clean sheets. Compare whether his extra £0.5m is better spent here or on an attacking £4.5m option.
FAQ
How much is Malick Thiaw?
£5.0m.
Why does DefCon matter for Thiaw?
He collected 24 defensive-contribution points in 2025/26, giving him another route even when Newcastle concede.
Does he have goal threat?
Yes. He scored four league goals last season and also scored in the final pre-season weekend.
Sources
OneFPL analysis. OneFPL is an independent Fantasy Premier League companion and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the Premier League or Fantasy Premier League.
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