The stunning striker deal which could see Newcastle replace Woltemade - at Aston Villa's expense
Could Newcastle United’s next striker signing come from right under their rivals’ noses?
Newcastle United have endured a challenging season by their recent standards and Eddie Howe will be faced with the question of where to go next if the Magpies miss out on European football for next term.
Howe has seen increased pressure from fans in recent months but is likely to have enough credit in the bank to be given the chance to turn things around in the North East, with the Toon still in the FA Cup and with a Champions League last 16 tie against Barcelona on the horizon.
Their transfer business last summer in replacing Alexander Isak raised question marks and many of their signings this term have flattered to deceive. Anthony Elanga has disappointed since signing from Nottingham Forest, while striker duo Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa have just eight league goals between them and have failed to fill the gap left by £125million man Isak. The search may, therefore, continue this summer for his successor.
Newcastle linked with shock move for Ollie Watkins
According to reports by Sportsboom, Newcastle are ‘eyeing’ Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins as they look to add another striking option at St. James’ Park this summer.
The 30-year-old has been a key figurehead in Villa’s rise to European contention under Unai Emery but has seen his least productive season in front of goal for the club this term, bagging just eight goals in 27 league matches. Watkins was linked with a transfer exit last summer and all parties might feel that this summer is the right time for the England international to seek a fresh start after six seasons and 95 goals at Villa.
Newcastle are said to be ‘monitoring Watkins’ situation’ as his future at Villa Park appears once again to be uncertain, amidst reports by Football Insider that the Birmingham outfit are likely to accept £30m for the striker this summer.
Could Watkins replace Woltemade at St. James’ Park?
Watkins could arrive at Newcastle as a direct replacement for Woltemade, Sportsboom state in their report. The German has seen links with a return to the Bundesliga as his form on Tyneside continues to decline.
The former Stuttgart striker signed for the Magpies for £69m in the summer and hit the ground running in his early months at the club but has not scored in his last 15 matches across the league and Champions League. The 24-year-old’s only goal since December in any competition came in FA Cup fourth round victory against Aston Villa themselves earlier this month.
Woltemade has hit 10 goals in all competitions nevertheless, which is far from a terrible record in his first season in England. But considering the prolific man he was replacing and with the club-record fee involved, expectations were sky-high and neither his goalscoring record nor his performances have done enough to match those expectations.
Watkins, in comparison, is more than proven at Premier League level and could form a deadly duo up front with Wissa. Whether he is the long-term answer for Newcastle remains to be seen, but at £30m he would offer a significant market opportunity which the Magpies would be smart not to miss – damaging the strike-force of a direct rival in the process.