Newcastle United are set to sign Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart.placeholder image
Newcastle United are set to sign Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart. | Getty
Newcastle United are closing in on a record striker signing as the Alexander Isak saga takes a fresh twist.
Newcastle United have been hunting for a striker all summer as a replacement for Callum Wilson, who left as a free agent at the end of June.
Alexander Isak’s subsequent request to leave the club has only intensified The Magpies’ need for attacking reinforcements. Anthony Gordon’s recent suspension and the upcoming transfer deadline has seen Eddie Howe’s side spring into action to strike a deal.
Newcastle had missed out on numerous striker targets over the summer with Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko all heading elsewhere. The club have also had bids rejected for Premier League forwards Yoane Wissa and Jorgen Strand Larsen from Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers, respectively.
Newcastle have missed out on two strikers from the Bundesliga so far this summer but it looks to have been third time lucky. Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade has agreed to join The Magpies in a deal worth around £65million.
It represents a club record fee and will break the £63million paid to Real Sociedad for Isak back in 2022.
Club statement confirms imminent NUFC transfer and medical
Woltemade is set to complete his medical on Friday morning in Newcastle to become the club’s new striker. The 23-year-old joined Stuttgart on a free transfer last summer but attracted interest from some top clubs across Europe after scoring 17 goals in all competitions last season.
The likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich were all credited with an interest in the 6ft 6in German international but Newcastle have now swooped in to strike a deal.
And VfB Stuttgart have released a statement, without naming Newcastle, heavily implying an imminent transfer.
A statement titled ‘Nick Woltemade released for discussions’ read: “VfB has received an offer from a European club for an immediate transfer.
“Shortly before the summer transfer window closed, VfB Stuttgart received an offer from a European club for an immediate transfer of Nick Woltemade. The terms of this offer have prompted club officials to release Nick Woltemade from training and matchday duties in order to hold talks with the interested party about a potential transfer.
“A decision on this is expected before the end of tomorrow, Friday.”
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What does this mean for Alexander Isak, Newcastle United and Liverpool?
Woltemade joining Newcastle brings Isak a step closer to leaving the club and joining Liverpool. But Newcastle have continually stressed that their first striker signing would be a replacement for Callum Wilson.
Liverpool would then need to return with a fresh bid for Isak with The Magpies now more open to selling, though they would still ideally look to sign another forward before the transfer window shuts on Monday, September 1.
The Magpies have failed to sign Strand Larsen and Wissa with two rejected bids each. While Stand Larsen has continued to play for Wolves amid the transfer interest from Newcastle, Wissa is yet to feature for Brentford this season.
The arrival of another striker would likely open the door for Isak to leave though Liverpool may be tempted to test Newcastle’s resolve before any such deal materialises.
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