Bayern eyeing Nick Woltemade again despite chief’s ‘idiot’ jibe at Newcastle
Newcastle could seek around €60m for Nick Woltemade next summer, according to Tuttosport, with Bayern Munich’s reported interest potentially complicating Juventus’ hopes of keeping him.
The Italian newspaper’s report, published on Tuesday, suggests that price could prove difficult for the Turin club. They report Bayern are considering making a move for Woltemade next season, while stressing there has been no direct contact with either the player or Newcastle.
Newcastle retain a say over his future
Crucially, Tuttosport reiterates that Juventus have no option to buy. Keeping Woltemade would require a fresh agreement with Newcastle, leaving us able to assess his season before deciding whether to sell and at what price.
There is already a financial return from the temporary move. Juventus’ official announcement confirms a €2.8m loan fee, with up to €500,000 in bonuses. It lists a further €800,000 in ancillary costs separately.
A productive season could improve the offers available, particularly if Bayern’s interest develops into something concrete. Newcastle have not committed to a sale price that Juventus can simply activate.
An awkward reunion with Rummenigge?
A move to Bayern would carry a certain irony after Karl-Heinz Rummenigge’s public dig at the money Newcastle paid for Woltemade.
Speaking on BR’s Blickpunkt Sport last September, Bayern’s former chief executive and supervisory board member congratulated Stuttgart for finding, in his words, “an idiot who paid that much money”. He made clear Bayern would not have paid it.
Those comments prompted Jamie Carragher to accuse him of being disrespectful, and you do wonder how Woltemade would feel about being welcomed by a club whose senior figure had been so dismissive of his transfer fee.
To his credit, the striker was more measured. In a Bild am Sonntag interview last November, reported by Get German Football News, he described Rummenigge’s full statement as “somewhat unfortunate, but not quite so dramatic”.
Bayern could argue that signing him for less would be entirely consistent with their objection to the original price. Fair enough. But after publicly mocking Newcastle for paying it, having to come back to us and negotiate for the same player would be an awkward little twist.
