Dietmar Hamann has described Nick Woltemade’s struggles at Newcastle United as ‘remarkable’ and says it has presented Eddie Howe with a ‘really tricky situation’.
Newcastle accomplished a £69m move for Germany international Woltemade after begrudgingly selling Alexander Isak to Liverpool for over £120m.
Woltemade had a good record for his former club Wolfsburg – scoring 18 goals in 36 games – however it was suggested in Germany that Newcastle had overpaid for the striker.
The 24-year-old enjoyed a vivid begin to his St James’ Park profession, nonetheless, scoring six goals before the beginning of November and impressing together with his all-round play.
But Woltemade’s contributions began to fall away over the winter period and the German has now scored only once in his last 20 appearances in all competitions.
The towering forward has even been used barely deeper by an increasingly desperate Howe but Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has dismissed the notion he can play in midfield.
Hamann insists his compatriot’s drop-off is ‘very strange’ and has raised the chance that Woltemade will now be sold after only one season.
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‘I couldn’t consider the developments in the previous couple of weeks and months regarding Nick Woltemade,’ Hamann told BoyleSports.
‘There was a story in certainly one of the German papers that he hasn’t settled within the North-east, which I personally think is a paradise for a footballer, because when you’ve got a little bit of success, they treat you as a hero.
‘He had an amazing start and was adored by the faithful, adored by the fans. It’s obviously a really strange situation because when you had told me this after six or eight weeks, where he scored a couple of goals, I’d have said he’s going places and he’ll be one who may be there for a couple of years, who’s loved and adored by the people.
‘To have the turnaround now in a brief space of time is de facto remarkable. What you hear and what you see probably makes me think that there may be a summer exit, which is clearly not a superb situation for the club because they paid an awful lot of cash.
‘Do you force him to remain here? Is that a superb solution? And who’s going to pay the cash for him now?
‘So, yeah, I believe it’s a very tricky situation for each of them, for each parties, but especially for the club.’
If Newcastle do find yourself selling Woltemade, Hamann believes former Manchester United and Chelsea transfer goal Victor Osimhen could be the ‘perfect’ substitute.
Osimhen has scored a powerful 55 goals in 67 games since joining Galatasaray in 2024 and helped Napoli win the Serie A title before his move to Turkey.
‘I believe Victor Osimhen is certainly one of the highest five centre forwards in Europe,’ ex-Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester City and Bayern Munich midfielder Hamann added.
‘I couldn’t consider that he ended up in Turkey. Obviously, Napoli paid an awful lot of cash for him, but I’m very surprised that not one of the English teams signed him, because all of them struggled for centre forwards in the summertime.
‘They tried for players like Benjamin Sesko, and other players who’ve are available in are only just beginning to adapt now because they obviously needed a while.
‘I believe he’s an excellent player and I believe he’s probably the rationale why Galatasaray is doing well within the league and likewise within the Champions League.
‘I really like watching him and I believe, if he were to play within the Premier League, there are teams he would make a lot better.
‘Obviously, Liverpool have gotten two players there now, so he won’t find yourself there, but he’s an excellent player. He’s got pace, he’s got power, he can finish, a beautiful player.
‘If Newcastle do sell Nick Woltemade, he might be the proper fit.’
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