Newcastle have agreed a £70m deal for Stuttgart’s striker Nick Woltemade, who is due to have a medical on Tyneside on Friday morning. The 23-year-old’s transfer could open the door for Alexander Isak to secure his long-coveted move to Liverpool.
Woltemade has two Germany caps and loomed large on Bayern Munich’s shopping list this summer after scoring 17 goals in 33 appearances for Stuttgart last season. The fee includes £5m of add-ons.
His arrival would end Eddie Howe’s long search for a striker. After being rejected by, among others, Liam Delap, Hugo Ekitiké, João Pedro and Benjamin Sesko during a close season blemished by Isak’s decision to go on strike as the forward attempts to force a move to Anfield, this breakthrough will come as a huge relief to Newcastle’s manager.
It should also almost certainly preface a fresh bid from Liverpool for Isak. Newcastle have rebuffed one £110m offer from the Premier League champions but, given the Swede’s refusal to return to training or playing, it is thought a sum nearer £130m may be sufficient.
With Callum Wilson having joined West Ham and deep uncertainty surrounding Isak, Howe remains in the market for two strikers. This week Newcastle had a second, £55m bid rejected for Wolves’ Jørgen Strand Larsen and it appears unlikely the Norway international will be allowed to leave.
Negotiations for Brentford’s DR Congo striker Yoane Wissa remain ongoing but have proved complicated with Newcastle having at least two bids turned down for a player who appears to be intent on a transfer to St James’ Park.
Although an element of doubt surrounds the precise figure Newcastle are paying for Woltemade, it will be a club record fee, eclipsing the £63m invested in recruiting Isak from Real Sociedad three years ago.
Howe will be particularly delighted with another figure. Having wanted to add real height to his already physically powerful team, he has now acquired a deceptively skilful 6ft 6in centre-forward dubbed a “Two metre Messi-Musiala” by Stuttgart fans.
One of Woltemade’s jobs at St James’ Park will be to convert crosses supplied by Anthony Elanga, a £55m arrival from Nottingham Forest this summer. With the central defender Malick Thiaw, the midfielder Jacob Ramsey and the goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale having also joined Newcastle from Milan, Aston Villa and Southampton respectively during the current window, Howe’s squad has, albeit quietly, acquired the sort of much-needed strength in depth that may yet compensate for Isak’s prospective exit.
