Nick Woltemade has switched the black and white stripes of Newcastle United to those of The Old Lady with a season-long loan switch on deadline day.
Juventus have roped in the Germany international on a €3.6m loan. While the 24-year-old moved to Tyneside amid much fan fare on the back of a €75m move from Stuttgart, he had a trying debut campaign after a promising start. However, he has a chance to start anew in Turin.
Juventus began this summer needing to overhaul their attack line. Out went Jonathan David, Loïs Openda, and Dušan Vlahović, with Randal Kolo Muani and Kerim Alajbegovic being the other notable additions. While Bianconeri were earlier looking at Joshua Zirkzee, a deal could not be reached for the Dutchman, with Manchester United only willing to sanction a loan if there was an obligatory buy clause. Woltemade’s loan has not even a buy option.
In Woltemade, Juventus have on their hands a forward who is a better converter of chances than Zirkzee. Contrary to what his tall stature would imply, he is a mobile centre-forward who can also ably link up play while being adequately adept on the ball. Having moved on several strikers, his is a profile Juventus were arguably in need of more than someone like Zirkzee.
With the Europa League in the mix, this will be a long campaign for Juve, and players like Woltemade — who has been joined in Turin deadline day by another Premier League loan arrival in Pape Matar Sarr — will get ample chances to showcase why he is much better than what his debut season numbers at Newcastle would suggest.
It is important to keep in mind that he was far from the sole player whose campaign derailed towards the second half of last season; it was a fate that befell Newcastle as a whole. His goal contributions tally of 17 was also not far off from the one he ended with during his last season at Stuttgart (20), though he did make 18 more appearances across all competitions.
The price tag that weighed on him at Newcastle will remain at bay while he’s with Juve, who will under no obligation to keep him if the move doesn’t work out, something they’ll welcome especially after how things ended with Openda. The lack of pressure on that front could liberate Woltemade and help him return to Newcastle next summer a rejuvenated man.
Anshuman Joshi | GIFN
