Nick Woltemadeplaceholder image
Nick Woltemade | Getty Images
Newcastle United are pushing to complete the club record signing of Nick Woltemade before Saturday’s Premier League match at Leeds United (5:30pm kick-off).
Woltemade arrived in Newcastle on Thursday evening and will conduct his medical on Friday morning after they agreed a £65million deal with Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart.
The 23-year-old is set to become The Magpies’ club record signing, breaking the record set in 2022 when the club paid £63million for Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad.
Three years on, Newcastle could well double their money for Isak with Liverpool pushing to sign the striker in the final days of the window. And Woltemade’s arrival, and the potential addition of another forward, would almost certainly trigger the conditions for Isak to leave should an acceptable bid be received.
Newcastle are in desperate need of a striker heading into Saturday’s match at Elland Road with Isak’s ongoing unavailability and Anthony Gordon’s suspension leaving head coach Eddie Howe with a lack of striker options.
William Osula, who came off the bench and scored against Liverpool at St James’ Park on Monday night, is the only recognised striker in the squad. But Osula has one thing in common with incoming signing Woltemade, he is yet to start a Premier League game for Newcastle United.
So who could lead the line for Newcastle on Saturday, will it be Osula, Woltemade or another player used out of position?
Will Nick Woltemade be available for Newcastle United against Leeds United?
In theory, Woltemade could be available to make his Newcastle debut this weekend, but the could would have to act very quickly.
In reality, it’s unlikely unless Newcastle were able to have Woltemade successfully complete his medical, finalise the deal and be registered with the Premier League before 12 noon.
Rule U.23. in the Premier League Handbook states: “Subject to the provisions of Rule V.1, the deadline for receipt by the Board of all duly completed documents required by these Rules to effect the registration of a Player shall be 12 noon on the last Working Day before the date of the first League Match in which the Club making the application intends him to play, save that the international transfer certificate and evidence of eligibility to take up employment in the United Kingdom (in both cases if applicable) may be provided thereafter (but must be provided before the Player is eligible to play for a Club in a League Match)."
The Magpies were in a similar situation with Jacob Ramsey ahead of the opening day of the season but didn’t end up announcing the transfer until afterwards. The fact he was joining from Aston Villa, Newcastle’s opening day opponents, may have had something to do with that mind!
But even if Woltemade were registered in time, it would be out of character for Howe to throw him straight into a Premier League match without having trained with his new teammates at all, despite the desperate situation when it comes to striker options.
A further update is expected from Howe in his pre-match press conference from 9:30am.
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Newcastle United team news v Leeds United
Newcastle are set to be without Gordon, Isak and Fabian Schar for the Leeds match. Joelinton and Sandro Tonali are also set to miss out, with Howe’s squad already looking somewhat depleted just two games into the new season.
Ramsey could be set to make his full debut for Newcastle in midfield with Malick Thiaw also in contention to come in for Schar for his full debut. Osula will be pushing to start, though Howe could still opt to play someone like Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy or Anthony Elanga through the middle as a more experienced but less natural striking option.
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