Is Newcastle’s Latest Signing Ready To Replace Alexander Isak?

BRAUNSCHWEIG, GERMANY – AUGUST 26: Nick Woltemade of VfB Stuttgart celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the DFB Cup Round One match between Eintracht Braunschweig and VfB Stuttgart at Eintracht-Stadion on August 26, 2025 in Braunschweig, Germany. (Photo by Ronny Hartmann/Getty Images)

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Newcastle United has finally made a big signing this summer. Literally. The Magpies’ new £69m addition stands at 6ft 6”. Nick Woltemade will be among the tallest players in the Premier League now that he has completed a move from Stuttgart and Newcastle needs the German forward to hit the ground running.

It’s been a difficult summer for Newcastle. Last season, Eddie Howe’s team finished fifth, securing Champions League qualification for the second time in three seasons. The Magpies also won the Carabao Cup, ending the club’s long 70-year wait for a major piece of silverware.

The hope on Tyneside was that this would give Newcastle a platform to continue building. However, the club struck out on many of its top targets including Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Hugo Ekitike, all of whom decided to join direct rivals in the Premier League.

Matters got worse when it emerged Alexander Isak wants to depart St James’ Park. The Swedish striker has been Newcastle’s top scorer in each of the last three seasons and is considered one of the best centre forwards in English and European soccer. The Magpies planned on building around Isak for years to come.

Woltemade’s arrival at St James’ Park is an indication that Newcastle finally has a plan to move forward. The 23-year-old shone for Germany at this summer’s U21 European Championship and had been strongly linked with a move to Bayern Munich. Indeed, the Bavarians desperately wanted to land Woltemade this summer.

That Newcastle has beaten the German champions to the punch is encouraging from a black and white perspective and does something to dismiss the suggestion that the North East club isn’t attractive to the most talented players in the transfer market. Newcastle United has a lot going for it.

It remains to be seen if Isak will remain at St James’ Park or complete a blockbuster transfer to Liverpool in the final few days of the summer window. Either way, Newcastle at least now has some sort of succession plan even if Woltemade has a long way to go to reach the level of Isak. The German, however, has genuine potential.

Newcastle might not be finished spending either. The club has been linked with Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen having already completed deals for Antony Elanga, Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw and Aaron Ramsdale. The Magpies might not have planned it this way, but this summer could still end up being a successful one.