Newcastle United loanee Nick Woltemade has been dealt a potential blow with Juventus appearing to already be looking for alternative targets. The striker joined the Italian giants on a season-long loan before the summer window closed.
While the deal is not thought to have an option to make the move permanent next summer, it may have been hoped that a deal could be reached should the German impress during his temporary stay. But it seems that despite only having the striker for a matter of weeks, Juve are already looking at other plans.
International break concerns
Earlier this month, it was claimed that Woltemade had raised concerns in the Juventus camp with his performances for Germany over the international break. The striker missed an open goal from the six-yard box in the Nations League clash against Serbia, something that reportedly worried Juve, and prompted them to look for alternative targets.
Fresh reports in Italy claim that the Serie A giants are targeting a new striker in the January transfer window. It is claimed that they don’t see Woltemade as a centre-forward ‘in the traditional sense’ and are therefore looking for an out-and-out forward to compete with Kolo Muani.
Loan deal terms
Despite the club looking for potential replacements, ChronicleLive understand that Juve do not have a get-out clause in Woltemade's loan deal. It means that they will have to pay all of the striker's £150,000-plus per week salary until the end of the loan deal.
Woltemade has featured five times in all competitions for Juventus so far, scoring once in the Europa League. All of his appearances in Serie A have come off the bench, with him most recently getting half an hour in the 1-1 draw against Cagliari on Sunday, where he played alongside Kolo Muani.
Kolo Muani's praise
It’s a set-up that the French striker wants to be part of more often. Speaking to DAZN Italia, he said: "The coach said at half-time that we have a lot of the ball and needed to get it into the area with crosses, as there were bodies in the box, so when Woltemade came on there were more occasions and it was much better than the first half, but we can still do better."
"When Nick comes inside, he is big, can hold up the ball and worry the defenders, so it gives me more freedom to move around, get the ball, it is much better for me."
Woltemade joined Newcastle just last summer, completing a £69million move to St James’ Park, where he was seen as a potential replacement for the outgoing Alexander Isak. Last season, the 24-year-old played 54 times, scoring 11 goals and providing six assists.
Newcastle strengthened their attacking options over the latest summer transfer window, bringing Matias Fernandez-Pardo to the club from Lille. That allowed Woltemade to go out on loan. Fernandez-Pardo is yet to score for the Magpies in his five appearances for the club in all competitions.
