TBR Football can now confirm exclusive details from talks between Newcastle and Nick Woltemade.
As Alexander Isak pushes to join Liverpool before the 7pm deadline on Monday, the Magpies have sealed a £65m move for the Germany international – signalling a new record signing on Tyneside.
The Sweden international might have made Newcastle feel a bit unloved this summer with his antics, but TBR Football understand Woltemade has given Eddie Howe a very contrasting emotion.
Exclusive: Newcastle delighted to land Nick Woltemade and love how keen the German was to join
Graeme Bailey – Chief Correspondent for TBR Football – has now been told by sources close to the transfer that Newcastle are over the moon to have pulled this deal off.
Bayern Munich were keen to sign Woltemade earlier this summer, so the 23-year-old represents a coup for Newcastle.
Bailey says: “The big thing with Woltemade – and this is something Eddie Howe puts a lot of belief in – is the fact the player wanted to come. There was none of this spending days or weeks convincing him.
“Howe likes to talk to the player before a move – which is natural – but he also believes a club like Newcastle doesn’t really need selling too much.
“Woltemade didn’t need much convincing. Yes, for much of the summer, he believed he was destined for Bayern Munich, but it emerged at the start of the month that a permanent deal was not happening.
“Once Newcastle were made aware and had talks, it was clear the deal was on.
“Newcastle are delighted to get him, they really are. They genuinely believe Woltemade has potential comparable with any player in the Premier League – they rate him that highly.”
Woltemade – who VfB Stuttgart fans have interesting views on – scored 17 goals in 33 appearances across all competitions last season.
Latest on Yoane Wissa and Jorgen Strand Larsen
TBR Football understand Newcastle still want to sign another striker after Woltemade, with Jorgen Strand Larsen and Yoane Wissa firmly on their radar.
Newcastle recently saw a £55m bid rejected for Larsen – and also had a £40m offer for Wissa rebuffed earlier in August.
Both the Norway international and the DR Congo were not in the squad as Wolves lost to Everton and Brentford were defeated by Sunderland respectively on Saturday.
Wolves are willing to sell Larsen for £70m – while Brentford want £50m for Wissa.
TBR Football understand Newcastle also want a midfielder as talks are held with Davide Frattesi – so Howe has several decisions to make on who follows Woltemade to Tyneside before the 7pm deadline on Monday.