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.”
NEWCASTLE SUBMIT £21M OPENING OFFER FOR PALMEIRAS SENSATION EDUARDO CONCEICAO
Newcastle United launch a bid for Palmeiras star Eduardo Conceicao as Eddie Howe’s future hits a "seven-game test."
Newcastle United have put in an offer for a “superb” young forward, and they’re not the only ones circling. Premier League teams are watching, including leaders Arsenal.
Last season, Eddie Howe brought Newcastle their first trophy in 70 years. But things haven’t exactly gone according to plan since then. The team’s sitting 12th in the league, out of all the cup competitions, and Howe’s future suddenly looks shaky.
Now, after a pretty intense meeting with chief executive David Hopkinson, obvious questions are hanging in the air. Hopkinson didn’t say much to clear things up, either. “I don’t have a stance on his [Howe’s] future,” he said. “The derby loss hurt. We take it seriously. There’s nothing in us that thinks: ‘Well, it’s just three points and on we go.’ It has resonated. I spent a couple of hours in a one-on-one lunch with Eddie, and we talked through a multitude of things, including Sunderland.” So, yeah, definitely not the most reassuring words.
Still, despite all the uncertainty around the manager, Newcastle are working on summer transfers as usual. Behind the scenes, they’ve made a move for a talented new forward.
According to a report from RTI Esporte (via Sport Witness), Newcastle have now made a bid for Palmeiras forward Eduardo Conceicao. Arsenal are interested too, but Newcastle apparently want to move first.
Palmeiras want at least £34 million for the 16-year-old, which is huge considering his age, though his contract does have a massive €100 million (£86 million) release clause. Clearly, people rate him highly. Scout Jacek Kulig talked him up recently on social media, pointing out the strengths that make him stand out.
So far, Conceicao has impressed with Palmeiras U20s five goals and three assists in just 13 appearances. Doing that at 16 is no joke. But let’s be real, he hasn’t played for the senior team yet, so it might take some time before he’s ready to shine in the Premier League, whether that’s at Newcastle or somewhere else.
SIMON JORDAN QUESTIONS IF CEO DAVID HOPKINSON ACTUALLY CONTROLS EDDIE HOWE'S FATE
Newcastle CEO David Hopkinson refuses to guarantee Eddie Howe’s future following a devastating Tyne-Wear derby loss.
Earlier this week, Newcastle United’s CEO, David Hopkinson, spoke about Eddie Howe’s future at St. James'. James' Park. Howe took over after Steve Bruce left in November 2021 and quickly turned things around. Thanks in part to a solid January transfer window, he helped Newcastle avoid relegation. By his first full season, the team surprised many by finishing in the Premier League’s top four, securing Champions League football, and reaching their first major cup final since 1999, although they fell 2-0 to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final.
Howe also brought some silverware to Newcastle, ending a 70-year wait for major domestic trophies with a Carabao Cup win over Liverpool last season. Given these achievements and another Champions League qualification, his job seemed safe. But in a recent press briefing, Hopkinson was noticeably less forthcoming about Howe’s long-term role at the club.
This contrasts with Hopkinson’s earlier statements, especially on talkSPORT in February, where he expressed strong backing for Howe, praising his work and noting how admired he is across the league and even the national team setup. Back then, Hopkinson said, “Eddie’s our manager and an extraordinary one. Many clubs envy what he’s doing, and he has our full support.”
However, after Newcastle suffered a defeat to Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby, dropping into the bottom half of the table and facing a tough path to secure European football again, Hopkinson’s tone shifted. He told The Gazette, “I don’t have a stance on his future right now." The derby loss really hurt us. We take that seriously. I had a detailed conversation with Eddie recently about many things, including that defeat. Eddie is our manager, and I expect a strong finish to the season. We’ll discuss the future when the time comes. Our focus remains on this season’s competition.”
These remarks sparked some unease among fans, fueling speculation that Howe might be nearing the end of his time at Newcastle. Yet, talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan criticised Hopkinson’s cautious approach. He suggested the CEO could be stuck in a tricky spot, pressured to clarify his position given his previous praise and the club’s ambitions.
Jordan questioned who actually holds the power to hire or fire managers, whether that falls solely to Hopkinson or if ownership plays the deciding role. He pondered how much football expertise the CEO really brings and wondered if Hopkinson’s silence could be a sign of uncertainty rather than strength. Jordan noted, “Not having a stance on your manager isn’t the right way to put it. Perhaps it’s more about not wanting to discuss his future publicly yet, but that just leads to more speculation.” He argued that whatever Hopkinson says now will draw criticism, either highlighting the team’s struggles if Howe is backed fully or fueling rumours if there’s hesitation.
In the end, Jordan advised that the focus should be on explaining the club’s broader vision rather than getting caught up in these short-term debates. He pointed out that while Howe is capable, Newcastle’s challenges aren’t just about the manager but about bigger structural issues the club faces as it aims to compete at the highest level.
Must Read
_1774019675.webp)