Newcastle have reportedly agreed a shock deal for Stuttgart forward Nick Woltemade in a move that could offer Liverpool a major boost in their long-running pursuit of Alexander Isak.
Multiple outlets reported on Thursday evening that the Magpies had agreed a package for Woltemade worth more than €80million (£69m) plus add-ons, with personal terms agreed and the 23-year-old set to travel to Tyneside to undergo a medical in the next 24 hours.
The towering Woltemade - who stands at 6ft 6ins tall - has established a reputation as one of the hottest attacking prospects in European football, scoring 17 goals in 33 games across all competitions last season before topping the charts with six strikes in five appearances for Germany during their run to the European Under-21 Championship final in Slovakia earlier this summer, where they lost to England.
He had been linked with multiple other clubs including Bayern Munich and Chelsea, but Newcastle are set to complete a deal having also been trying to sign the likes of Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen before Monday night’s 7pm BST transfer deadline.
He will join Anthony Elanga, Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw and Aaron Ramsdale in strengthening Eddie Howe’s squad ahead of their return to the Champions League, where they will meet the likes of Barcelona and holders Paris Saint-Germain after Thursday evening’s league phase draw.
The deal for Woltemade could also be key to the future of Isak. The Swedish striker - said to be valued in excess of £150m - has not trained with Newcastle all summer or played for the club yet this season after making his desire to join reigning Premier League champions Liverpool abundantly clear as their final blockbuster arrival to accompany the high-profile signings of Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Giovanni Leoni and Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Isak is said to remain adamant in his wish to complete a move to Anfield before the summer deadline, though so far Newcastle’s owners have been unwavering in their stance that he is simply not for sale at any price after rejecting an initial bid worth around £110m, having also been searching for a replacement for Callum Wilson.
Liverpool will presumably now ponder a second offer and hope that stance softens late in the window after the deal for Woltemade, who seems unlikely to sign in time to feature for Howe’s men in their trip to face newly-promoted Leeds on Saturday.
His Newcastle debut is instead likely to come after the season’s first international break, with Wolves travelling to St James’ Park on September 13.
