After early-summer reports of Nick Woltemade’s availability were swiftly denied, the German’s future at Newcastle United has come into fresh doubt.
A new report is now claiming that Newcastle is prepared to let the striker leave just one year after his high-profile arrival from Stuttgart.
According to CaughtOffside’s Mark Brus, Newcastle have informed Woltemade that he can leave this summer, with a permanent transfer remaining the club’s preferred outcome. However, the report adds that a loan with an option
to buy is viewed as the most realistic scenario if no outright buyer emerges.
“Nick Woltemade is expected to leave,” a source told CaughtOffside. “Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, and Villa are interested, and Newcastle will listen to offers. One issue, though, is that they’re keen on a permanent sale for around €65m, but for now it’s probably more likely that clubs will seek a loan with an option to buy.”
On top of mentioning Villa, the report also claims two Premier League heavyweights are now monitoring the situation, with the implications that might have for Newcastle and Woltemade.
“This source has now provided us with an update to say that both Liverpool and Man Utd are alert to Woltemade’s situation and considering him as an option to add depth to their squads this summer,” Brus wrote. “He’s not necessarily seen as a first choice target for these teams, with no talks taking place yet, but they’re expected to keep a close eye on how his situation develops in the weeks ahead.”
Woltemade joined Newcastle from Stuttgart in a deal worth around £69 million last summer following Alexander Isak’s departure, but endured a mixed first campaign on Tyneside. The 6-foot-6 forward finished with eight Premier League goals and three assists, while scoring 11 times in 51 appearances across all competitions.
According to CaughtOffside, Newcastle value Woltemade at around €65 million, while interested clubs are more likely to explore an initial loan with an option to buy rather than commit to that sizeable fee immediately.
At this stage, if the report is true in both Newcastle’s valuation and Liverpool/Man Utd’s interest, then the asking price appears to be one of the biggest obstacles to a permanent transfer, even considering the financial power of those two Big Six clubs.
Would you loan Nick Woltemade out to rebuild his value, or would you cash in now if Newcastle received the right offer? Let us know what you’d do in the Coming Home Newcastle comments below.
