Newcastle United transfer update spells bad news for Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa
Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa were unused substitutes as Newcastle United drew with Barcelona in midweek.
Newcastle United are reportedly in the market for a new striker this summer despite spending £124million on two players last summer.
It is no secret that Alexander Isak’s exit has left a void at St James' Park this season. Newcastle are averaging just 1.45 goals per game in the Premier League - compared to 1.79 a year ago.
That was notable against Barcelona in midweek, with Will Osula being given the nod over Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa. When Eddie Howe needed a goal, he turned to an ill Anthony Gordon - a winger - rather than his two recognised strikers.
Newcastle United stance
Newcastle were placed between a rock and a hard place last August. Their main man wanted out - refusing to train or play until being sold to Liverpool.
Toon chiefs had a contingency plan in place until first-choice targets like Joao Pedro and Hugo Ekitike went elsewhere. Even the likes of Liam Delap and Benjamin Sesko snubbed a move to Tyneside.
Ultimately, the Magpies shopped in an unexpected market, with an element of panic to Woltemade and Wissa’s purchases. There is an acknowledgement within the club that neither addition has worked out so far.
Fresh transfer claims
The Daily Mail claim Newcastle are on the hunt for a new No.9. Potential targets named in the piece are Dominic Solanke and Inter Milan prodigy Pio Esposito.
A possible attempt to reignite a move for Delap - who has failed to impress at Chelsea - is also suggested. Newcastle are preparing for a busy summer, with a high volume of incomings and outgoings expected at St James' Park.
Eddie Howe defends Nick Woltemade
When NewcastleWorld asked about Woltemade’s form a fortnight ago, Howe issued a strong defence of his record signing. He said: “I speak to the players. Not necessarily on a daily basis, but I'll be having meetings with them throughout the week on various things, usually associated with their game and trying to help them with viewing games. I've done a lot of that with Nick.
“I think Nick's in a relatively decent place with his game. It's so funny how one performance or one bad game can suddenly bring a cloud around a player. I think Nick's performances, if you look at them with a more holistic viewpoint, have been excellent in recent games. I've been pleased with him.
“Yes, he's maybe not getting the goals that he was in the early season, but I think his all-round game is better than it was. I'm oblivious to the outside opinion. I would be saying the same as the national team manager, not necessarily to relax, but to carry on enjoying football, play your way. He's got outstanding qualities, I think he'll only get better for us as time goes on.”