Newcastle move for Woltemade ‘developing’ but Isak clarity ‘difficult’

Although Newcastle United’s acquisition of Nick Woltemade is “developing,” head coach Eddie Howe has not provided any assurances regarding Alexander Isak’s future.

Woltemade, 23, arrived on Tyneside on Thursday and is scheduled to complete his transfer from Stuttgart on Friday for a medical appointment.

A source said the fee would set a club record, surpassing the £63m they paid for Isak three years ago, but there hasn’t been confirmation of a payment.

Howe said it was unlikely that Woltemade would be signed in time for his Saturday Premier League game against Leeds United, but that “the most crucial thing is we try to recruit a centre-forward in.”

He claimed that at the moment, things are moving and developing well. I can’t confirm anything until things are finished, but keep your fingers crossed.

After Liverpool’s champions had a £110 million bid rejected last month, the signing of Woltemade could give them motivation to pursue a new deal.

Newcastle stated in a statement last week that they did not anticipate meeting the requirements for selling Isak, 25, to secure two top strikers and receive a suitable offer from Liverpool.

Howe said the club were “still looking” because there was “an opportunity to maybe improve the squad further,” and agreeing to a deal for Woltemade seems like a significant first step.

He once more made it clear that Isak might be able to rejoin the squad, but he felt it was difficult to provide “any clarity on the future.”

He said, “Of course I have a preference, but you must consider everything.” You have to consider everything else, even though I have a preference for football.

Because I have no control over it, you can’t just be unaware of what has happened, so I’m trying to stay out of it. I’ll allow the situation to unfold and handle it.

Howe felt the need to separate himself from the emotion, especially after Isak and his teammates stopped training.

The squad needed me to be the best me and be completely focused on them, he said, “and then I took the view that I needed to be that.”

Woltemade, who was born in Bremen and has two caps for his country, will make his debut with the move in a remarkable 12 months.

After joining Stuttgart from Werder Bremen for free last summer, Woltemade was not even a regular starter.

The 6’6″ striker then won the first major trophy of his career, scoring 17 goals in 33 games, including the German Cup final opener.

He then scored six goals as Germany advanced to the final, where they lost to England, by beating Germany 3-2 at the Under-21 Euros last month.

The tall Woltemade, which has qualities compared to Lionel Messi and Jamal Musiala, was referred to by Stuttgart captain Atakan Karazor as a “two-metre Messi-Musiala” in an interview back in February.

Bayern Munich, according to Raphael Honigstein, had shown an interest in Woltemade, according to the expert in the sport.

He has a lovely first touch, but Bayern really wanted him because he can play the number 10 as well, Honigstein said in a conversation with BBC Radio Newcastle.

They desired him to serve as Harry Kane’s backup or potential successor, but he has chosen to relocate to Newcastle.

Isak is all-action, fantastic in the press, quick to run, and capable of cutting inside. Woltemade is a bit of a battering ram, but he is also capable of doing all of these things in theory.

He may be on par with Isak, but his style is very different, and Newcastle will have to adjust, and he will adjust as his development progresses.