EDDIE HOWE SHUTS DOWN BBC GOSSIP REGARDING NICK WOLTEMADE’S NEWCASTLE FUTURE
Eddie Howe slams "unhappy" rumours! Discover why Nick Woltemade feels at home at Newcastle despite BILD and BBC transfer gossip.
Eddie Howe isn’t having any of it; he’s shot down the rumours that Nick Woltemade wants out of Newcastle United.
You might’ve seen it: some German journalist, Raimund Hinko, tossed out the idea in BILD that Woltemade’s unhappy on Tyneside and would rather be back at Stuttgart or maybe Bayern Munich. Then the BBC’s gossip column picked it up, slapped on a catchy line, and suddenly everyone’s talking about it. The story even landed back with Howe, who, let’s be honest, has probably heard enough transfer gossip to last him a lifetime.
Sure, Woltemade’s had his ups and downs this season. That happens. But he’s already hit double digits in his first year, and lately, he’s looked right at home in a new, deeper role. So when talk started swirling about him being miserable at Newcastle, Howe didn’t hesitate to set the record straight.
“He seems really, really happy,” Howe said. “What you see is what you get with Nick, always laughing, a great presence in the dressing room. He and Malik Thiaw have gotten pretty close, which is good to see. And honestly, everyone likes him. The squad really respects him and loves his attitude, and he’s always about the team.
“He’s just a good guy. Doesn’t take himself too seriously; he fits right in. So, when I hear these reports that he’s unhappy, it just doesn’t match the player I know.
“And on the pitch, he’s looked great lately. I’m really happy with what he’s doing. He’s performing at a high level, no issues at all.”
And it’s not just Howe saying so. Woltemade himself spoke to GQ and made it clear he feels like he belongs at Newcastle. After that brutal own goal against Sunderland in December, he braced himself for the worst. But instead of criticism, he found nothing but support from the fans.
“It was an awful feeling,” Woltemade admitted. “I’d never scored an own goal before, especially not in that match. Sitting on the bench after getting subbed, I thought the fans would destroy me. But when I checked my phone, it was just positive messages.
“That helped me a lot. I know how much that game meant to everyone. I was so grateful. It showed me I’m in the right place.”
And he bounced back fast. The next week, he scored twice in a 2-2 draw with Chelsea, and St James’ Park was singing his name.
“The whole crowd was singing for me – unbelievable. That own goal could’ve wrecked my season, but instead, the fans lifted me. It turned out to be the best feeling.”
EDDIE HOWE CONFIRMS NEWCASTLE LINEUP SHIFTS ARE PART OF A MAJOR FUTURE STRATEGY
Eddie Howe confirms he is picking Newcastle lineups with next season in mind, trialling players like Ramsey and Woltemade early.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe isn’t pretending he’s already thinking about next season. People have been saying Kieran Trippier is close to triggering a payment if he plays more games, so that might influence whether he features again before the season ends. But Howe brushed that off and said he’s making his decisions purely for football reasons.
Talking to reporters at the City Ground about why Anthony Gordon was missing, Howe admitted he’s picking his lineup with the future in mind. Later, in his press conference, he went into more detail about focusing on what comes next at St James’ Park.
"We’re definitely looking ahead," Howe said. "You can see it in some of the choices I’m making with the team. I want to get a look at some players and see how they might grow into the squad."
One of those players is Jacob Ramsey, who came off the bench, set up Harvey Barnes with a great pass, and really changed the game. "I thought Jacob Ramsey was brilliant when he came on against Forest. He really made a difference, and so did Harvey. It’s good to see players taking their chances," Howe said.
He added, "We have to be thinking about the future now and what the team’s going to look like next year. That’s our responsibility at this point."
Before the match, Howe surprised a lot of fans by starting Lewis Hall at right-back, Nick Woltemade in midfield, and pushing Joelinton further forward than usual. Again, Howe explained he wants to see what players can do in different positions.
"It wasn’t some huge change from Brighton; we kept the same shape," Howe said. "But for Nick, this was only one of a few times he’s started in that role for us. He played alongside Will, and they haven’t had much time together either.
"There were positives for Nick, but he wasn’t involved as much as we wanted in the first half. We still need to see his best on the ball. In the second half, though, I thought we got better as a team. We attacked more and looked like a real threat as the match wore on."
MAGPIES EYE £1M BARGAIN TIAGO GABRIEL TO SOLVE GROWING DEFENSIVE INJURY CRISIS
Newcastle are leading the race against Juventus for Tiago Gabriel, the 21-year-old Serie A defensive sensation.
Newcastle United appear to be keeping an eye on Lecce’s young defender Tiago Gabriel as they consider potential options for the summer transfer window.
With Fabian Schar’s contract due to expire at the end of June, the Magpies are preparing for the possibility of his departure. Although an extension is still on the table, Schar has been sidelined since early January because of an ankle injury and doesn't seem close to making a comeback.
At 21, Gabriel has featured 36 times across all competitions this season for Lecce, who are currently four points clear of the Serie A relegation zone. Newcastle’s recruitment team is among those following his development, seemingly interested in exploring a move once the transfer window opens.
Back in December, reports surfaced that both West Ham and Juventus were also tracking Gabriel’s progress. The young defender, who came through Sporting CP’s academy, has had a strong season and will enter the final year of his contract this summer.
Gabriel transferred to Lecce last January for slightly over £1 million, moving from Portuguese club Estrela Amadora. Should he leave this summer, a significantly higher fee might be expected, reflecting his rise in form.
Before joining Estrela Amadora, Gabriel had been part of Setúbal's academy after leaving Sporting in 2020. His performances have earned him regular appearances for Portugal’s Under-21 side, and senior international opportunities may not be far off.
A switch to the Premier League could potentially boost his profile substantially, but he will likely weigh his options with some care.
According to O Jogo, Newcastle continue to monitor his situation keenly as interest around the defender grows.
Regarding Fabian Schar’s future, things remain uncertain even with just weeks left on his current deal. While Kieran Trippier has been publicly confirmed to be leaving upon contract expiration, no similar announcement has come for Schar.
Last week, Howe commented on the defender’s status, noting that no definitive decision has been made yet. He emphasised Schar’s value to the team, pointing out his unique role as a ball-playing defender and his versatility in various defensive setups.
Schar’s influence on the pitch and experience are clearly appreciated, and the club hopes he can regain full fitness before the season concludes. As for any new contract talks, Howe suggested it’s a matter of waiting to see how things unfold.
