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How Newcastle could replace Woltemade in the dying stages of the window

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Published Aug 16, 2026, 8:10 PM GMT+1

Daniel is an experienced football writer and editor with more than a decade of experience covering the professional game, specialising in the Championship, Football League and Scottish football, alongside in-depth coverage of Norwich City, Celtic and Rangers.

A journalist since 2015, Daniel began his career writing for Fresh Press before progressing into a full-time writing and editing role, producing club-focused coverage for Read Norwich, Read Celtic, Read Liverpool and Read Arsenal. He later spent almost a year with Liverpool-based outlet Anfield Watch, where his work included conducting and transcribing interviews with figures including Liverpool goalkeeping coach John Achterberg, former Wycombe striker Adebayo Akinfenwa and journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Daniel has worked with Snack Media (now Valnet) since 2021, contributing to Football FanCast as both a writer and editor. His work focuses particularly on player analysis, transfer insight and original football features, combining detailed knowledge of the game with research-driven assessment of players, clubs and potential moves.

His specialist knowledge of Norwich City and the Football League has also seen him contribute to BBC Norfolk and assist DAZN with research for commentary broadcasts. As a Norwich City season-ticket holder, Daniel brings a level of first-hand knowledge of the club and its players that complements his wider expertise across the Championship and EFL. His Norwich coverage has also featured in publications including the Coventry Telegraph and Liverpool Echo.

Alongside his Football League expertise, Daniel has covered Celtic and Rangers extensively, developing a strong understanding of Scottish football. His work gives readers informed transfer assessment, detailed player analysis and authoritative insight into clubs and competitions he has spent years following and reporting on.

Newcastle United's concerning pre-season continued on Saturday when they were beaten 2-1 by German giants Bayer Leverkusen at St. James' Park.

The Magpies have now lost three of their last four pre-season matches, conceding ten goals in the process, and only have one more game before their Premier League opener.

Newcastle United manager Matthias Jaissle poses with the home kit on the pitch

Matthias Jaissle has a big job on his hands after taking the reins from Eddie Howe, and he may need patience from supporters to turn things around.

The German boss will also need backing from the board before the end of the summer transfer window, potentially with the addition of an upgrade on Nick Woltemade.

Why Newcastle already need to replace Nick Woltemade

It has only been 12 months since the Magpies smashed their transfer record to sign the Germany international from Stuttgart for a fee of £69m, yet they may already need to replace him as a starter.

Newcastle pair Malick Thiaw and Nick Woltemade

He looked like an exciting addition to Howe's squad after a return of 17 goals and three assists in 33 appearances for Stuttgart in the 2025/26 campaign, as the young forward showcased his quality on a regular basis in the Bundesliga.

Unfortunately, though, the physicality and intensity of the Premier League has looked too much for him so far, despite a fast start to life at St. James' Park last season.

Woltemade scored four goals in his first five appearances in the division for the Magpies, before going on to score just four times in the next 28 games, leading to Howe trialling him in central midfield at times.

2026 pre-season

Nick Woltemade

Appearances	3
Minutes	198
Shots	1
Goals
Key passes
Big chances created
Dribbles

He has followed that up with a disappointing pre-season for Jaissle. In three appearances, against Valencia, Everton, and Leverkusen, the striker only registered one shot and failed to create anything for his teammates.

His struggles in the Premier League for the majority of last season and his poor form in pre-season suggests that the club may already need to find an upgrade on him before the deadline.

Newcastle chasing deal for Woltemade upgrade

A deal to find that upgrade may already be in the pipeline, as Jaissle eyes up a move for an attacker who is a class above the towering German.

According to a report from Italy, Newcastle United are one of a number of clubs in the race to sign AC Milan centre-forward Christopher Nkunku before the end of the summer transfer window.

The French attacker is said to be leaving Milan this summer and his availability has attracted interest from a host of teams, including Borussia Dortmund and other unnamed sides from Spain and England.

Jaissle is chasing a Magpies deal for the France international, who joined Milan from Chelsea for £36m last year, but it remains to be seen how much the Italian outfit want for his services.

Nkunku's availability represents a great opportunity for Newcastle to sign a player who may not have been available to them earlier in his career, as he was courted by bigger sides with more resources after his time at Leipzig.

The 28-year-old star scored seven goals and provided three assists in 15 starts in the Serie A last season, an impressive return given his lack of minutes, but it is his form for Leipzig in the past that suggests that he has much more to offer.

Christopher Nkunku at Leipzig

Season

Goals

Assists

22/23	23	7
21/22	35	16
20/21	7	9
19/20	5	13

He racked up 18 goal contributions in three of his four seasons with the German club and reached 30 goal contributions in each of his last two campaigns before signing for Chelsea.

These statistics show that he has the potential to be an outstanding contributor at the top end of the pitch, as both a scorer and a creator of goals in the centre-forward position.

He went on to score 18 goals in 62 matches in all competitions for Chelsea, as he struggled with injuries, but the forward produced those goals in just 27 starts, which is further evidence of the quality that he can provide when fit and selected.

Woltemade, meanwhile, has never scored more than 17 goals or provided more than four assists in a single season in his career, and averaged a goal every 242 minutes in the Premier League last term.

AC Milan's Christopher Nkunku in action with Atalanta's Ederson

Nkunku scored every 197 minutes in the Serie A for Milan, whilst also supplying three assists, and scored six goals in 11 starts during his time in the Premier League with Chelsea.

The Frenchman has not been given the starts that he would have liked at Chelsea and Milan, but his output in limited minutes and his form when he was a regular starter at Leipzig suggests that he has the quality to be a class above Woltemade in the final third for Newcastle.

That is why Jaissle should be pushing for the club to win the race for his signature before the deadline, provided that Milan demand a reasonable fee for him.

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