NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Nick Woltemade of Newcastle United looks on during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion at St James’ Park on August 26, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Newcastle United ultimately got to complete a full midfield rebuild this summer, but a new report from Germany has now revealed just how far the club was prepared to go in pursuit of perhaps the biggest target they aimed at through the transfer window.
The Magpies had identified Borussia Dortmund star Felix Nmecha as a leading option following Bruno Guimaraes’ departure for Arsenal, with previous reports indicating BVB would demand a humongous €100 fee to even consider selling him.
According to Sport Bild, via Bulinews, Newcastle attempted to overcome that obstacle with an unusual player-plus-cash proposal.
“Newcastle proposed a swap deal involving Nick Woltemade, alongside a multi-million-euro payment, in exchange for the 25-year-old midfielder,” Bulinews reported.
Borussia Dortmund, obviously, rejected the proposal, with Nmecha considered an integral part of the Bundesliga club’s plans. The Germany international ultimately remained at Dortmund, while Woltemade instead joined Juventus on a season-long loan after being linked with a move to BVB.
Sky Sports Germany’s Patrick Berger and Nico Ditter reported during the window that Newcastle held initial discussions with Nmecha’s representatives and intended to submit an offer to Dortmund. L’Equipe also identified the midfielder as Newcastle’s preferred replacement for Guimaraes. Landing him was always going to require an extraordinary deal, thus the final outcome.
“I would consider that extremely unlikely,” Dortmund sporting director Nils-Ole Book already said a few weeks back when asked about Nmecha’s potential departure. “Of course, astronomical sums are always theoretically possible, but I think I can pretty much rule that out with Felix Nmecha this summer.”
Newcastle ultimately took its midfield spending elsewhere, landing Nico Gonzalez from Manchester City rather than meeting Dortmund’s enormous valuation. The Spaniard joined fellow incoming midfielders Aladji Bamba and Sean Steur.
Would you have included Woltemade plus a significant fee to land Nmecha, or did Newcastle ultimately make the better move by signing Gonzalez? Let us know in the comments below!
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