Making a successful switch from the Bundesliga to the Premier League is becoming a bit of a rarity in the modern game.
For every Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Heung Min-Son, there’s a Sebastien Haller, Nicklas Füllkrug and Jadon Sancho who never quite lived up to both their transfer fees.
Our club record signing Nick Woltemade looks to be a Bundesliga success story in the making, as he’s effortlessly adapted to English football and popped up with big goals already for us.
After netting against Spurs in the Carabao Cup, whilst striker predecessor Alexander Isak still struggles to find his feet at Liverpool, Woltemade has got everyone talking. And one former Newcastle boss has made some bold calls concerning the German international and the rest of his campaign…
Pardew makes Woltemade predictions
Speaking on talkSPORT after Newcastle’s 2-0 win over Spurs in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, Alan Pardew had nothing but huge praise for Nick Woltemade.
Not only does Pardew predict that Woltemade will score 20 goals this season, he’s backing the big man to start the 2026 World Cup as Germany’s main man, believing he will cement himself as their first choice striker ahead of Kai Havertz.
Discussing his start to life at Newcastle and his predictions for club and country over the next year, Pardew said:
“I wish I could have paid 70 million for a striker (at Newcastle). I love him, and obviously up at Newcastle they love him. He’s bought into the crowd and the environment. He’s settled in lovely and he scored goals.”
“That penalty he took two weeks ago where he just walked up and smashed it in the top corner just shows the confidence the boy has.
“I think he’ll start for Germany at the World Cup. He’ll have that big a season at Newcastle. Newcastle love crosses. Eddie has always loved crosses.
“He’s gonna have a nice supply of ammunition to get goals and I think he will. I think he’ll end up with 20 goals.”
Can big Nick deliver on Pardew’s prediction?
Is 20 goals for the season and securing Germany’s ‘no.9’ role looking feasible for the former Stuttgart star?
Thankfully, Woltemade should be starting every game for us over the comings weeks, as Howe won’t want to rush Yoane Wissa back from injury after it emerged today he is still “not close” to resuming full training sessions.
Double digits seems certain, with him already bagging six in nine starts, but 20 goals would be a more than welcome return for his debut campaign.
As for his Germany starting prospects, that depends on two things: the first being Kai Havertz’s form and fitness, where he is expected to return to Arsenal after the November international break.
And the other being the form of the other German attackers in the Bundesliga: Nagelsmann has shown in the past to pick players from up and down the top flight table, so Woltemade may face stiff competition with the likes of Jonathan Burkardt from Eintracht Frankfurt and new Bayern Munich prospect Lennart Karl.