Newcastle United have agreed a £70 million deal to sign Stuttgart and Germany striker Nick Woltemade, with the 23-year-old set to undergo a medical on Tyneside on Friday morning. The transfer, which includes £5 million in add-ons, could pave the way for Alexander Isak to finally secure his long-coveted move to Liverpool.
Woltemade, who has two Germany caps, scored 17 goals in 33 appearances for Stuttgart last season and was on Bayern Munich's shopping list. His arrival ends Eddie Howe's lengthy search for a striker after being rejected by several targets, including Liam Delap, Hugo Ekitiké, João Pedro and Benjamin Sesko, during a close season marred by Isak's strike to force a move to Anfield.
The deal is expected to trigger a fresh bid from Liverpool for Isak. Newcastle have already rejected one £110 million offer from the Premier League champions, but with the Swede refusing to return to training or playing, a sum nearer £130 million may be sufficient. The fee for Woltemade is a club record, eclipsing the £63 million paid for Isak three years ago.
Howe remains in the market for two strikers after Callum Wilson joined West Ham and amid deep uncertainty over Isak. Newcastle had a second, £55 million bid rejected for Wolves' Jørgen Strand Larsen, and negotiations for Brentford's Yoane Wissa are ongoing but complicated, with at least two bids turned down for the DR Congo striker who appears intent on moving to St James' Park.
Woltemade, standing at 6ft 6in, is dubbed a 'Two metre Messi-Musiala' by Stuttgart fans and will add height to Howe's physically powerful team. One of his roles will be to convert crosses from Anthony Elanga, a £55 million arrival from Nottingham Forest. Newcastle have also signed Malick Thiaw, Jacob Ramsey and Aaron Ramsdale from Milan, Aston Villa and Southampton respectively, adding much-needed depth that may compensate for Isak's potential exit.
