Newcastle told to sign former Chelsea target to replace Nick Woltemade | Football

Dietmar Hamann has described Nick Woltemade’s struggles at Newcastle United as ‘remarkable’ and says it has presented Eddie Howe with a ‘really tricky situation’.

Newcastle completed a £69m move for Germany international Woltemade after begrudgingly selling Alexander Isak to Liverpool for over £120m.

Woltemade had a decent record for his former club Wolfsburg – scoring 18 goals in 36 games – but it was suggested in Germany that Newcastle had overpaid for the striker.

The 24-year-old enjoyed a bright start to his St James’ Park career, however, scoring six goals before the start of November and impressing with his all-round play.

But Woltemade’s contributions began to fall away over the winter period and the German has now scored just once in his last 20 appearances in all competitions.

The towering forward has even been used slightly deeper by an increasingly desperate Howe but Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has dismissed the notion he can play in midfield.

Hamann insists his compatriot’s drop-off is ‘very strange’ and has raised the possibility that Woltemade will now be sold after just one season.

‘I couldn’t believe the developments in the last few weeks and months regarding Nick Woltemade,’ Hamann told BoyleSports.

‘There was a story in one of the German papers that he hasn’t settled in the North-east, which I personally think is a paradise for a footballer, because if you’ve got a bit of success, they treat you as a hero. 

‘He had a great start and was adored by the faithful, adored by the fans. It’s obviously a very strange situation because if you had told me this after six or eight weeks, where he scored a few goals, I would have said he’s going places and he’ll be one who might be there for a few years, who is loved and adored by the people.

‘To have the turnaround now in a short space of time is really remarkable. What you hear and what you see probably makes me think that there might be a summer exit, which is obviously not a good situation for the club because they paid an awful lot of money.

‘Do you force him to stay here? Is that a good solution? And who’s going to pay the money for him now?

‘So, yeah, I think it’s a really tricky situation for both of them, for both parties, but especially for the club.’

If Newcastle do end up selling Woltemade, Hamann believes former Manchester United and Chelsea transfer target Victor Osimhen would be the ‘perfect’ replacement.

Osimhen has scored an impressive 55 goals in 67 games since joining Galatasaray in 2024 and helped Napoli win the Serie A title before his move to Turkey.

‘I think Victor Osimhen is one of the top five centre forwards in Europe,’ ex-Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester City and Bayern Munich midfielder Hamann added.

‘I couldn’t believe that he ended up in Turkey. Obviously, Napoli paid an awful lot of money for him, but I’m very surprised that none of the English teams signed him, because they all struggled for centre forwards in the summer.

‘They tried for players like Benjamin Sesko, and other players who have come in are only just starting to adapt now because they obviously needed some time.

‘I think he’s an outstanding player and I think he’s probably the reason why Galatasaray is doing well in the league and also in the Champions League.

‘I love watching him and I think, if he were to play in the Premier League, there are teams he would make much better.

‘Obviously, Liverpool have got two players there now, so he won’t end up there, but he’s an outstanding player. He’s got pace, he’s got power, he can finish, a wonderful player.

‘If Newcastle do sell Nick Woltemade, he could be the perfect fit.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MORE: ‘Perfect’ – Liverpool urged to make stunning transfer bid for Chelsea star

MORE: Clinton Morrison makes bold prediction for PSG vs Chelsea Champions League tie

MORE: John Terry responds to Liam Rosenior’s shock claim over £60 million Chelsea star