Nick Woltemade loan move explored as Borussia Dortmund contact Newcastle - Report
Borussia Dortmund have sounded Newcastle United out over a possible loan move for Nick Woltemade, according to Sky Germany.
Any move appears to depend on Fabio Silva leaving Dortmund. Sky reports that BVB would listen to offers of around €20m for the Portuguese striker, with Real Betis interested in the former Wolves talent.
It's claimed Dortmund Sporting Director, Ole Book, and right-hand man, David Blacha, have made initial contact with Newcastle over a potential loan deal.
If Silva stays, this Woltemade idea may disappear as quickly as it arrived, as it seems Dortmund have to make space in the squad to allow for another incoming up top.
Has Woltemade run out of road at Newcastle?
Not necessarily, but the doubts are becoming difficult to ignore.
Woltemade’s Newcastle career started brilliantly. He scored four times in his first five Premier League appearances and finished his debut season with eight goals and three assists from 33 league outings. Respectable enough numbers, but nowhere near enough to remove the questions surrounding a club-record £69m signing.
Matthias Jaissle initially appeared determined to revive him. The new boss told Woltemade to leave the past behind, but pre-season has done little to suggest that reset is working.
He has been tried as a No.10 and as a striker. Neither role has looked especially natural. Against Bayer Leverkusen, his touch deserted him, the pace of the game seemed too much and we gave him a four in our player ratings.
That is the real concern. Woltemade has obvious technical ability, but where does he fit in Jaissle’s intense, vertical system?
As the striker, he has not shown the mobility, pressing or running in behind that Wissa and Osula offer. As the No.10, he is not yet providing the speed of thought, creativity or energy that the role requires.
He currently looks caught between two positions. The bigger worry is that the Premier League has exposed the same issue.
A loan could help, but only as part of two deals
There is a sensible argument for allowing Woltemade to return to Germany temporarily.
Regular football in familiar surroundings could rebuild his confidence and protect Newcastle’s investment. Should he shine in the Bundesliga, we either get a better player back or have a far stronger market for a future sale. That is preferable to forcing him into a system that does not suit him while his value continues to slide.
Newcastle would have to protect themselves. No cheap option to buy, no cut-price obligation and no loan designed purely to give Dortmund a convenient Fabio Silva replacement. A worthwhile fee, proper wage coverage and a clear sporting plan for Woltemade would be essential.
Even then, the replacement must come first. Sending him out would leave Wissa and Osula as our only recognised senior centre-forward options.
We already need a central midfielder, a right winger and a genuine attacking midfielder. Adding another striker search this late hardly makes the recruitment team’s job any easier.
Still, keeping Woltemade solely because Newcastle have failed to find somebody else would not solve much either. If Jaissle does not see a long-term place for him, a loan could allow the manager to bring in a striker or No.10 who actually suits his high-intensity football.
It could make sense for everyone. It just cannot happen until Newcastle have the next move under control.
