AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw supposedly has no plans to leave the club despite reports of interest from Real Madrid.
Earlier this week, it was claimed that Los Blancos were prepared to offer €20m (£17.4m) for the German's services in 2024 following their injury concerns in the early weeks of the new term.
Real boss Carlo Ancelotti is working without Eder Militao for the long term due to his ACL issue, while David Alaba has also struggled to stay fit throughout the 2023-24 campaign so far.
In addition, club captain Nacho Fernandez is out of contract at the end of the current season, and his departure would open up a defensive void needing to be filled in the summer transfer window.
Thiaw has come on leaps and bounds since leaving German crisis club Schalke 04 last summer, and the 22-year-old's contract with the Rossoneri does not expire for another four seasons.
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West Ham United were also believed to be weighing up an approach for Thiaw, having seen a move for Manchester United and England centre-back Harry Maguire collapse over the summer.
However, Calciomercato states that Thiaw is in no rush to leave San Siro, and Milan are even keen to hand him a new-and-improved contract to reflect his importance to the squad.
Thiaw is said to earn a yearly €800,000 (£694,888) under the terms of his current contract, but Milan are prepared to treble his wages to as much as €2.7m (£2.4m) per annum.
The report adds that all parties will sit down for a 'calm' discussion over his contract in the spring, and any extension would see Thiaw commit his future to the club until at least 2028.
The Germany international is settled in Milan, but while he has no plans to depart the club for at least another two years, his long-term plan beyond the summer of 2025 is shrouded in uncertainty.
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Since arriving in Italy, Thiaw has made 33 appearances for Stefano Pioli's side across all competitions, including 27 outings in his debut season amid competition from Simon Kjaer and Fikayo Tomori.
The 22-year-old has established himself as a regular starter for Pioli in the 2023-24 season, featuring from the first whistle in seven Serie A games and both of Milan's opening Champions League ties with Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle United, which ended goalless.
Heading in the opposite direction, Milan are thought to be keeping tabs on Real's teenage sensation Arda Guler, who is yet to make an appearance for Los Blancos since arriving from Fenerbahce this summer due to injury.
The Rossoneri are supposedly hoping to strike a loan deal with the option for a permanent move in 2024, but Guler is determined to prove himself in Spain and is not expected to entertain any offers from Milan.
Furthermore, there is nothing to suggest that Guler could be used as a makeweight in any future deal for Thiaw, who could make his third appearance for Germany in Tuesday's friendly against Mexico.
Ben Knapton
