LARS RICKEN SHUTS DOWN NICK WOLTEMADE TO DORTMUND RUMORS: "NO TRUTH"
Lars Ricken denies Dortmund interest in Nick Woltemade as Newcastle’s striker defends his recent midfield role shift.
Borussia Dortmund’s managing director, Lars Ricken, isn’t entertaining any rumours about a move for Newcastle’s Nick Woltemade this summer. When asked, he shut things down quickly: “That’s the first I’ve heard of it. No truth to it.”
These rumours started popping up after German reporters suggested Serhou Guirassy could leave Dortmund, with both Woltemade and Hoffenheim’s Fisnik Asllani mentioned as possible replacements.
Guirassy has been making headlines himself. Over the last two seasons, he’s turned into one of Europe’s most talked-about strikers, 21 Bundesliga goals in 30 games last season, followed by 18 more across all competitions this year. There’s talk of a €35 million release clause in his contract, but Ricken insists he’s not going anywhere. “We hear every transfer window that he might leave, and he’s still here,” he said. “It’s my wish, and the wish of Ole Book and Niko Kovac, that Serhou stays with us this summer. He feels right at home, and we have zero intention of letting him go.”
Now, about Woltemade, his first season at Newcastle has been a bit of a rollercoaster. He made a quick impact with seven goals before Christmas after joining from Stuttgart, but it’s been a dry spell since December 20, when he scored against Chelsea. Lately, he’s found himself deeper in midfield rather than leading the line, something he touched on while away with the German national team last week.
When pressed about his lack of goals recently, Woltemade didn’t seem rattled. “I don’t see this as negative as some people do. For me, it’s just a normal period,” he said. “People look at the stats and see I’ve only scored once since the new year and wonder what’s up. But anyone watching closely knows I’m playing a completely different position than I did at the start. Against Chelsea, I spent most of the match in midfield, tracking Cole Palmer. You connect me with scoring, but you can’t compare a striker’s goal tally to that of someone playing 50, 60, or 70 meters away from the opponent’s goal. I’m a different Nick Woltemade now and should be judged on things like how I win my duels or cover my spaces.”
He went on: “Things started well for me up front in those first few months, but then we had a few changes. Bruno Guimaraes, our playmaker, has been out and after that, a few other midfielders, too. We’re a team here, not just individual players. Sometimes you have to fill in where you’re needed. I’ve dropped deeper and, honestly? I think I’ve done all right. The coach is happy, even if he does wish for a bit more punch in attack. Luckily, we’ve got Anthony Gordon to bring that for us.”
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.
