Transfers were the focus of the latest episode of The Everything is Black & White Podcast
Transfers were the focus of the latest episode of The Everything is Black & White Podcast including on Nick Woltmade, Serhou Guirassy and Tino Livramento
Transfers were the focus of the latest episode of The Everything is Black & White Podcast including on Nick Woltmade, Serhou Guirassy and Tino Livramento
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Newcastle United may have had a three-week break but the news and debate surrounding the club hasn't stopped.
As the Magpies prepare for a trip to Selhurst Park on Sunday to face Crystal Palace - looking to bounce back from defeat in the Tyne-Wear Derby - there's been plenty of discussion about the future of Eddie Howe as head coach, as well as stars such as Tino Livramento, and Nick Woltmade.
In this week's Q&A episode of The Everything is Black and White Podcast, our Newcastle United writer Sean McCormick, alongside host Andrew Musgrove, discussed the key talking points from transfers, sponsorships and a potential summer of change.
Nick Woltemade's future - the last seven games are crucial
Nick Woltemade's Newcastle United future will hinge on the final seven games of the season, as speculation grows surrounding the German international. Despite only being signed for a record club fee last summer, Woltemade is being continuously linked with an exit with Borussia Dortmund the latest side tipped with an interest in the 24-year-old.
And while the final run-in is being labelled as make or break by some regarding the job of Eddie Howe as head coach, attention is also been drawn to Woltemade, his recent form and ultimately whether he stays on Tyneside beyond this season.
According to McCormick, one of they key indicators to whether Woltemade will remain at Newcastle will be how he is deployed in the set-up for the remainder of the season.
Asked whether Woltmade must be moved back up top, he said: "Yes, 100% - and if he doesn't go back up top, I don't understand what that means for him. You'll have Lewis Miley, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali back, and you've then got the three midfielders who were involved in the derby.
"There's six midfielders who are all going to be fit, touch wood, for this Crystal Palace game. If Nick Woltemade continues in the midfield (a) it says that they don't trust him to play up-front anymore, and (b) where does that leave him? Because clearly, as much as he's a talented footballer, he's nowhere near as good as any of those six players in midfield.”
Tino Livramento - a sale is very much on the table
Full-back Tino Livramento is one of Newcastle United's big names being linked with a summer exit. The 23-year-old has suffered with injuries but when fit and firing has shown himself to be a very good defender as well as being capable of carrying United forward in attack.
With Kieran Trippier's departure now confirmed for the summer, it throws a spotlight onto Livramento, and whether he stays at the club or United cash-in and reinvest the money.
Speaking about Livramento's future, McCormick said: "Man City have courted Livramento for a long time and Arsenal have been linked with him as well - it'll be interesting to see [what happens].
"If you don't see any sort of impact in that contract negotiation between now and June, then it's probably safe to say that Newcastle may have to sell Livramento but he's a fantastic player and his best years are certainly ahead of him.
"Of course, David Hopkinson said last week that if Newcastle have to sell a couple of their star players, they will do in a much more prepared fashion than they did with Alexander Isak last year - and you'd think that the frontrunners for that are Sandro Tonali, Tino Livramento and maybe Anthony Gordon.
"I would say it's more likely to be Tonali or Livramento - you've got a big chance of losing them this summer."
Transfer approach is about to change but they should consider Serhou Guirassy
There's a strong belief that Newcastle United are going to move away from big outlays on so-called established names - and focus more on the market of up-and-coming players from the continent and further afield.
Indeed links to Karim Coulibaly, an 18-year-old centre-back who plays for Werder Bremen, reaffirm the belief that the focus when it comes to new arrivals will be youngsters with potential.
However, given the speculation surrounding Woltemade and reports suggesting he could be a replacement for Serhou Guirassy at Dortmund, there's a hope that United may make one last big signing outside of any new assumed transfer strategy, and go for Guirassy themselves.
At 30, it's unlikely but Guirassy has one of the best strike rates across the top leagues in Europe - hitting a century of goals in his last 148 games. Reports suggest he is ready to move on from Dortmund, and McCormick, while he accepts it's more hope than expectation, has urged United to go and get him.
“I would love to see them go for Guirassy but whether or not it's realistic, I don't know because the age range is a problem as he's 30 already.
"So it's whether or not you're sort of gambling on those two years, him them firing into the Champions League spots, to winning trophies, and competing at the higher end of the table, and then having to replace him, especially if it ends up being him and Yoane Wissa - that would be a problem.
"But he would be brilliant. He'll have top suiters and it'll go against the sort of the age range policy of Newcastle, but that could be a question to ask surely. If Woltemade is a potential replacement at Dortmund for him, surely that's a question Newcastle have got to ask and think about because for two seasons, [aged] 30 to 32, he's got to guarantee your goals.”
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