Better than Sesko: Why Newcastle United could come out as winners this summer after £69m Nick Woltemade signing
Newcastle United have spent a club-record £69m on new signing Nicolas Woltemade
After several long-drawn out and ultimately unsuccessful transfer sagas, Newcastle United have finally signed a striker and it’s fair to say that the manner in which the deal came about was one that took almost everyone by surprise.
Magpies supporters have had to put up with their fair share of false storms this transfer window after failed moves for Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike and most recently Benjamin Sesko, who opted for a move to Old Trafford as opposed to St James’ Park. They’ve also had a myriad of rejected offers for the likes of Jorgen Strand Larsen of Wolves and Yoane Wissa of Brentford amid the backdrop of a depressing transfer saga that has seen the club’s top scorer in two of the last three seasons essentially go on strike to try and force a move to Liverpool.
Most fans were keen for a little break from the rumour mill when the Champions League draw, but just as supporters were tuning in to the event and licking their lips at the prospect of another trip to Paris and a home clash with Barcelona, the St James’ Park faithful were hit with a stunning breakthrough as Mail Sport reporter Craig Hope broke news that the club had agreed a club-record figure for Nick Woltemade and that the German international was already travelling to Tyneside for a medical.
What to expect from Nick Woltemade
Nick Woltemade is a 23-year-old German international that has just enjoyed a sensational breakout season with Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart.He was the top scorer in the Under-21 European Championships for runners-up Germany, scoring six times and also contributing three assists, which made him the leading assist maker at the tournament as well.
Woltemade joined local side Werder Bremen at the age of eight and signed his first professional contract in 2020 just weeks after becoming the club’s youngest ever Bundesliga appearance maker at 17 years, 11 months, and 16 days. He was consistently selected for the German national team at various age groups but took time to adapt to the challenges of playing regular Bundesliga football. The striker got his first taste of success out on loan at third tier German side SV Elversberg, scoring 17 and providing 10 assists in 37 appearances as the club secured successive promotions while also winning the division’s Player of the Season award. Woltemade scored just two goals in 30 matches for Bremen in the top-flight (the majority of which were substitute appearances) before joining Stuttgart on a free transfer. He was expected to simply be a squad player and wasn’t even selected for their Champions League squad at the time.
Over the course of last season Woltemade quickly changed that perception and emerged as Stuttgart’s outstanding performer. He scored 12 goals in 28 matches during the league season but perhaps most significantly managed five in the DfB Pokal (the equivalent to the FA Cup) as his team lifted silverware for the first time since 2007. Significantly, Woltemade was the hero on cup final day with a strike against Arminia Bielefeld as his side ran out 4-2 winners while he also scored a vital goal in the semi-final against RB Leipzig.
Woltemade is a player whose stock has rapidly risen throughout the season. So much so that he was long on the radar of champions Bayern Munich, who had three separate bids turned down for the striker. He’s a striker most Newcastle fans simply assumed the club were never really in the running for, and a signing which could well prove to be a real coup, as long as he can maintain his high standards from last season.
What will Nick Woltemade bring to Newcastle United?
Nick Woltemade is an imposing presence at 6ft 6 and naturally someone that’s viewed as a real threat from set pieces. However, he’s intriguingly not really known for his ability in the air after scoring only two headers last season for club and country.
Instead, he’s renowned for his immense technical qualities and his ability to glide past defenders with ease while also providing plenty of chances for his team-mates. Woltemade is as gifted as a central attacking midfielder or a No.10 as he is at playing in the centre forward position, which means on occasion he will look to drop deep and play through those around him which could benefit pacey stars such as Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga. He completed a total of four successival take-ons leading to a goal last season, which is the joint third highest in the division alongside new Liverpool recruit Florian Wirtz.
Statistically he outperforms former target Benjamin Sesko in most metrics with 4.38 shot creating actions per 90 as opposed to the Slovenian’s 1.93, while he’s also made more blocks and tackles while completing a greater percentage of his passes throughout the season. Woltemade is a unique footballer and not yet the finished product so it’s still essential that Newcastle try and sign a proven Premier League scorer to aid his development as Alexander Isak had in his first season alongside a prime time Callum Wilson. However, it’s ultimately a signing that could change many people’s perception of Newcastle’s transfer window, and help extinguish the feeling of doom and gloom surrounding the club’s striker situation.
Crucially, Newcastle in this window have upgraded the midfield with Jacob Ramsey coming in for Sean Longstaff, added attacking fire power in the form of Anthony Elanga on the right wing and bolstered the defensive depth with the addition of Malick Thiaw. They are also better equipped in goal with the younger Aaron Ramsdale providing competition to Nick Pope after Martin Dubravka’s exit to Burnley.
Newcastle’s transfer window has been mocked on several occasions but they could well prove to be the true winners, with the potential Isak sale funding the bulk of their spending and leaving them in a stable position to go again from a PSR standpoint.