A Star in the Making

As Alexander Isak forced his way out of Newcastle, the club saw its hopes for the upcoming season fall apart. With Liverpool and Tottenham securing some of the more interesting striker options, nothing seemed left for the Northern club.

However, almost out of nowhere, the Toffies brought in Nick Woltemade to fill the Isak-sized hole.

Woltemade’s game easily translated to the Premier League, evolving from the role he played in the Bundesliga. While he still mostly resembles the player who led Stuttgart last season, the Prem allowed the German to evolve into a striker fully. 

Kai Havertz, although closer in style to Florian Wirtz, mirrors the type of player that Woltemade was in Germany. Two towering forwards who could both score and create for others, playing a hybrid nine/ten role. However, both players immediately saw their roles change upon arriving on English shores. 

While Havertz still struggles to carve out a role, Woltemade, almost from the first kick, took to the Prem smoothly. Fitting the mold of a pure striker more than Havertz, the forward somewhat filled the gap left by Isak. Woltemade still shows some of the passing juice that made him a fascinating prospect in Germany, but his game now revolves more around being that targetman.

With the German excelling thus far, Newcastle may have struck gold once more.

As more players move from the Bundesliga to the Prem, a clear prototype transitions much more easily.

The divorce between Isak and Newcastle dragged on throughout the summer, threatening to tank the upcoming season for both parties. Rather than figuring out their situation after losing Isak, the club moved for Woltemade.

Credit: Newcastle United-Facebook

Unlike Hugo Etkike, whose name appeared at the top of every transfer list, Woltemade never made a ton of noise. Playing for a mid-table Stuttgart side, no one outside of those with an interest in the German game paid much attention. Rather than appearing to be a target for a Champions League side, the striker seemed better fit for a lower table Prem side.

However, with all that said, there was enough in Woltemade’s game that made him an interesting prospect. Not only did his physical profile match that of strikers who succeeded in the Prem, but his playmaking interested scouts. By no means a truly excellent passer, he still performed rather well when compared to other strikers in the Bundesliga.

As he continues to adapt to the Prem, his role has changed. From being an additional playmaker in Germany to the team’s main threat up top, Newcastle found a gem.

Similar to when they brought in Isak, the Toffies opted to trust an unpolished player. Isak at least showed somewhat sustained success with Real Sociedad, but Woltemade arrived even more raw. Despite both being around the same age when arriving, Isak seemed like the more surefire bet.

Woltemade hit the ground running, just as Isak did, proving, so far, to be an adequate replacement. While he still needs to show the prolific nature of the Swede, there’s enough to suggest that the German may be a long-term Prem fixture. Checking off every box for the type of player who finds success in the Prem, Newcastle may have found a player to bridge the gap into the new era.

Newcastle went from dreading the end of the Isak era to feeling hopeful for the next one.

Woltemade may not be the team-changing player that the Swede was, but he can at least help them get to the next level.

Like Woltemade, Havertz saw his career change after spending more time in the Prem. Unlike the striker, the Arsenal forward still is yet to figure himself out in the league.

While most see him as a bit of a flop, Havertz was at one time one of the most exciting prospects in football. A tall attacking midfielder who harkened back to the days of Kaka roaming the pitch, he was Wirtz before Wirtz. Everything pointed towards the German succeeding in a league and on a Chelsea team that liked his style of play. 

While Joao Felix flamed out more notably, their declines mirror each other. Both players were primarily attacking midfielders who became strikers much to their chagrin. Neither could thread that needle, with Havertz sticking around longer than Felix due to his other skills.

As new managers attempted to get production out of Havertz as a striker, it seemed to foreshadow trouble for Woltemade. However, as Havertz’s style slowly went out of fashion, Woltemade’s came back.

Woltemade flashed potential as a playmaker, but his bread and butter always came down to the threat he posed as a scorer. Unlike Havertz, who never really fit the mold of a striker, Woltemade’s physical profile promised to make the position permanent. Not only does his profile skew better towards a striker, but he has shown a better ability at positioning himself for chances.

Havertz may continue to stick around as essentially a role player for good sides, but Woltemade promises to be more. In a wave of Bundesliga strikers finding success in the Prem, he promises to be one of the better ones. While he may never reach the potential of Etkike, Woltemade is already proving to be quite the coup for Newcastle.

The juxtaposition between Havertz and Woltemade represents two players entering the Prem at different times for each.

While Havertz’s development took a hit when he joined Chelsea, his compatriot filled a massive hole with ease.

Newcastle may spend the rest of the season lingering just above midtable, but that will not hurt Woltemade. As the striker continues to acclimate to the Prem, his ceiling keeps rising with each matchday.

Isak’s departure forced the club to jumpstart its next era, but with Woltemade, it may have found a nice piece.