- Real Madrid linked with Nick Woltemade
- Jose Mourinho’s love for Newcastle United
- While sale could work for Magpies
Real Madrid have been linked with an almost unbelievable move for Newcastle United striker Nick Woltemade – but is it possible to rule anything out with Jose Mourinho in charge?
The Special One has taken the hotseat at the Bernabeu at the age of 63. Mourinho had, at one stage, been a frontrunner to replace under-fire Eddie Howe in April.
Those links may have been in no small part down to Mourinho’s well-known love for Newcastle United. That could also perhaps explain the supposed interest in misfiring Woltemade.
Real Madrid monitor Nick Woltemade transfer
Ignacio Sanchez claims that while Real Madrid have made Juventus marksman Dusan Vlahovic their number one priority in the summer transfer window, the German international is viewed as an alternative option.
Woltemade only arrived at St James’ Park from Stuttgart for £69 million last summer. The 24-year-old got off to a flier with four goals in his first five Premier League outings.
However, the wheels somewhat came off after that. The striker scored just four more goals over the rest of the campaign and was forced to play in midfield by Howe.
While the likes of Lewis Hall, Sandro Tonali and Tino Livramento appear more likely to leave Tyneside this summer, there is some speculation over the future of Woltemade.
The forward admitted he was ‘not happy’ with his own performances last season while preparing for the World Cup and could struggle to take back the number one position from William Osula, should the former Sheffield United star pick up where he left off next term.
German outlet Bild had claimed that Atletico Madrid could make a swoop for Woltemade and now it seems that there is an outside chance Real Madrid could do so too.
Jose Mourinho could do Newcastle United a favour with £69m bid
Mourinho’s love for the Magpies is thanks to his relationship with Sir Bobby Robson. The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager has said: “I’ve never hidden about how much affection and how dear Newcastle is to me because of the influence of a legendary person at the club.
“At this stadium, people don’t come here to watch the game, they come to play alongside the team. This city has a totally different culture to London, and clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal. I love coming here to play here, I said to my players yesterday that it’s beautiful.”
If Mourinho truly loves the Magpies, then he should be marching up to the Real Madrid board and demanding that £69 million is offered to give Woltemade a fresh start.
While there is still a lot of love for the charismatic forward from Newcastle fans, there is a huge amount of value tied up in a player who is both underperforming and struggling to get into the side.
If the Magpies were able to make back what they spent on Woltemade, it would take the pressure off selling players who are more integral to the XI such as Hall, Tonali and Livramento.
What’s more, given the struggles in front of goal last season, Newcastle supporters would love to see a new talisman arriving at the club, but that could only ever happen in one of Woltemade, Osula or Yoane Wissa were to be shown the door.
In other news, I played for England and this Newcastle United star will ‘easily’ score at the World Cup.
