Nick Woltemade has been linked with a move to Borussia Dortmund which could present Newcastle an interesting opportunity
Borussia Dortmund are eyeing Newcastle United forward Nick Woltemade if Serhou Guirassy leaves the club
Borussia Dortmund are eyeing Newcastle United forward Nick Woltemade if Serhou Guirassy leaves the club(Image: Getty Images)
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If Nick Woltemade leaves Newcastle United in the summer transfer window, it will be an obvious admission they made an expensive transfer mistake.
To give up on their club record £69million signing after just one season would be a real shame, particularly after how strong of a start Woltemade made after his summer arrival from Stuttgart.
It is easy to forget the 24-year-old scored nine goals in his first four months at the club, with a quickfire double against Chelsea, exquisite finishes against Brighton, Union SG, Nottingham Forest and Everton living long in the memory, as well as a bullet header on debut against Wolves.
But his struggles since the turn of the year have been stark (he has scored just once in all competitions) and he has been used as a midfielder rather than a forward for the past two months of the season.
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With Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Lewis Miley all set to return to action later this month, it will be very interesting to see whether that midfield experiment continues. Given Joelinton, Jacob Ramsey and Joe Willock will all also be available it should spell the end of that experiment. If it doesn't, it implies a total lack of trust in Woltemade to lead the line for Newcastle.
Newcastle have always been at their best when they are relentless with their pressing. Woltemade doesn't offer that. He is undoubtedly a fantastic footballer but the jury is out on his suitability to play in Eddie Howe's system.
Either Newcastle adapt to Woltemade or Woltemade adapts to Newcastle but if there is a failure to find a successful outcome between the pair between now and the end of the season then United may just have to accept they have made an expensive mistake and cut their losses.
For what it is worth, Woltemade's best years are ahead of him and Howe is a big fan of his qualities. Given Yoane Wissa's similar struggles, and the fact he turns 30 in September, it would make more business sense to persist with Woltemade rather than the DR Congo international, should Newcastle choose to sell one of their forwards this summer.
But with BILD in Germany suggesting Borussia Dortmund are making contingency plans for the exit of their prolific goalscorer Serhou Guirassy, and Woltemade has been part of those conversations, it could present Newcastle with an opportunity they cannot ignore.
The publication claims Guirassy, 30, has decided to leave Signal Iduna Park this summer if the right offer comes in and Woltemade has come into focus as a possible replacement, as well as Hoffenheim forward Fisnik Asllani.
Guirassy's availability will prompt excitement in recruitment circles and it almost feels like an open goal for Newcastle to tap in to find a solution to solve all their problems. The Guinea international joined Dortmund from Stuttgart two years ago off the back of a 30-goal season and was the top scorer in both the Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup last term.
Guirassy's 38-goal haul last season has been backed up by a further 18 goals so far this term and his playing style feels much more suited to Newcastle's game.
If they can convince him to make the move to Tyneside, amid some stiff competition, he almost feels like a sure fire bet to score goals, even if he has no previous experience of the Premier League.
His age profile goes against what Newcastle's refined transfer policy is set to look like this summer but if Woltemade's struggles continue between now and the end of the season it seems a no-brainer to make an exception to the rule and at least ask Dortmund the question.