There is HOPE yet for Newcastle United's season - for these KEY reasons
Nick Woltemade is the latest Newcastle United cult hero after arriving for a club-record £69million.
Nick Woltemade has admitted he was under pressure to justify his Newcastle United price tag.
Eyebrows were raised when the Magpies stumped up £69million to sign the German. Woltemade had just enjoyed a breakout campaign in the Bundesliga and continued that form into the under-21s Euros, scoring six goals.
Bayern Munich tried and failed to sign the 23-year-old weeks before Newcastle got their man. Several leading figures from the Bavarian outfit criticised Woltemade’s hefty transfer fee, with six goals in black-and-white stripes silencing the naysayers.
Nick Woltemade name-checks Alexander Isak
Speaking to German media on international duty, Woltemade opened up about the pressure of replacing Alexander Isak - going as far as to name the former Toon man. He said: “A huge relief. The whole Newcastle package had potential for tension, especially since I arrived on the last day.
“Then there was the transfer fee. The expectations placed on me, because Newcastle’s top striker, Alexander Isak, had left,” he said. The start to the season wasn’t ideal. There was definitely pressure. I was very glad when it subsided. I quickly realised in Newcastle that it was a good fit not only on a footballing level, but also on a personal one.”
Nick Woltemade responds to price tag question
On the big-money price tag, Woltemade added: “I was confronted with it frequently. But I didn’t choose this situation. I’m the least responsible for the sums involved. Nevertheless, I was happy that Newcastle saw enough potential in me to pay that amount.
“For me personally, it makes no difference whether I go from Werder Bremen to Stuttgart on a free transfer or from Stuttgart to Newcastle for €75million. Even though I know that the fee means a few more pairs of eyes are on me.
“Although, in England, the issue of transfer fees is viewed much more calmly than in Germany. Within the team, the transfer fee isn’t a factor at all.”
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‘Transfer fee irrelevant’ - Eddie Howe
Hitting back at the Bayern critics, Eddie Howe defended Woltemade over a price tag that is out of his hands. He said: "It's irrelevant, really. The market forces dictate transfers fees – not necessarily any one club.
"We're very pleased to have Nick with us. I think he's started very strongly in what has been a difficult period for him because he's been thrust straight into action with no training time of note with us.
"He's done really well. We're really pleased to have him with us and the transfer fee is absolutely irrelevant."
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