Newcastle have agreed a £70m deal for Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade, with a medical scheduled on Tyneside on Friday and the fee including £5m of add-ons. The 23-year-old has two Germany caps and scored 17 goals in 33 appearances for Stuttgart last season. Woltemade's arrival would end Eddie Howe's prolonged search for a striker after several targets were rejected. The transfer could open the door for Alexander Isak to move to Liverpool, with Newcastle having rebuffed a £110m offer and a fee nearer £130m thought necessary given Isak's refusal to return to training. Callum Wilson has departed for West Ham, and Newcastle remain in the market for additional forwards amid rejected bids and complicated negotiations for other targets.
His arrival would end Eddie Howe's long search for a striker. After being rejected by, among others, Liam Delap, Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro and Benjamin Sesko during a close season blemished by Isak's decision to go on strike as the forward attempts to force a move to Anfield, this breakthrough will come as a huge relief to Newcastle's manager. It should also almost certainly preface a fresh bid from Liverpool for Isak.
Newcastle have rebuffed one 110m offer from the Premier League champions but, given the Swede's refusal to return to training or playing, it is thought a sum nearer 130m may be sufficient. With Callum Wilson having departed for West Ham and deep uncertainty surrounding Isak, Howe remains very much in the market for two strikers. This week Newcastle had a second, 55m bid rejected for the Wolves centre-forward Jrgen Strand Larsen and it appears unlikely the Norway international will be allowed to leave.
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