Newcastle United

Jordan Butler
BBC Sport journalist

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"Good feet for a big man" - the classic football cliche is less common these days but, as a statement, it neatly encapsulates Newcastle's imminent recruit Nick Woltemade.

The Germany forward is 6ft 6in and has exceptional close control, attributes that have earned him a multitude of monikers including Wolte-messi and the Tower of Stuttgart.

But, his unique profile aside, the 23-year-old is already rubbing shoulders with Europe's elite.

Since the start of last season only two players in Europe's top five leagues have averaged more touches in the opposition box - Kylian Mbappe and Mohamed Salah.

Warnings that Woltemade is not yet the finished article must still be heeded, as he struggled to make an impact at times during his first senior international appearances against Portugal and France in the Nations League back in June.

But IAlexander sak was far from a complete player when he first joined Newcastle United for a club record £63m fee in 2022. The Swede had scored just six league goals for Real Sociedad in the previous season - almost four fewer than his expected goals total of 9.78.

Woltemade was born on Valentine's Day and, while he will need time to adapt and grow in the Premier League, there is already a lot for Newcastle fans to love about the giant German.

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

It feels like there has been a shift on Tyneside. In so many ways.

Following so many setbacks in their search for a striker, Nick Woltemade is now having a medical before completing a club record move to Newcastle United.

And it does not sound like Newcastle are finished yet.

The Mapgies remain active in the market and Eddie Howe said on Friday morning that there was an opportunity to "maybe improve the squad further", which pointed to the club at least exploring the possibility of signing an additional centre-forward.

Whereas the prospect of Newcastle landing one striker once felt like a real challenge going into the final days of the window, now - suddenly - the club have momentum.

That could, in turn, have a knock-on effect on the Alexander Isak saga.

It was just last week that Newcastle did not envisage the "conditions of sale being met" to allow Isak to join Liverpool – namely recruiting two quality strikers and the champions returning to make an improved bid to actually give the club a decision to make.

But could that now change?

Howe reiterated that Isak could still be reintegrated, but the Newcastle head coach's tone surrounding the striker was noticeably different on Friday as he said "you can't just be oblivious to things that have happened" in reference to the Sweden international's conduct.

One way or another, this is going to be a frantic end to the window.

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England boss Thomas Tuchel has selected his 24-man squad for the September World Cup qualifiers.

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Dean Henderson

Defenders: Reece James, Marc Guehi, John Stones, Dan Burn, Ezri Konsa, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Tino Livramento, Djed Spence

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Jordan Henderson, Adam Wharton, Morgan Rogers, Declan Rice

Forwards: Harry Kane, Eberechi Eze, Jarrod Bowen, Anthony Gordon, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, Ollie Watkins

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Leeds United at Elland Road (kick-off 17:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• The injuries Sandro Tonali and Joelinton picked up against Liverpool last time out "aren't as serious as the club feared". He explained: "Tonali is battling to be fit, whether he makes it or not I'm not sure. He's dealing with pain not dislocation, so if he can do that then he can play. Joelinton won't feature, but he could be back the other side of the international break."

• Fabian Schar is "fit and fine to play" after following the Premier League protocols regarding concussion.

• The club have not appealed Anthony Gordon's red card so he remains unavailable.

• He couldn't say "too much" about the club's interest in Stuttgart forward Nick Woltemade, but there are "positive signs" regarding his move to St James' Park. Howe added: "Things are moving and developing in a good way at the moment. I can't confirm anything until things are done, but fingers crossed."

• Woltemade will not be registered in time to face Leeds United, though.

• There is "no update" on Alexander Isak's future at the club and, at present, it is "difficult to give any clarity" on the situation. Howe highlighted that it is a possibility Isak and Woltemade will be in the same squad.

• He admitted he is looking forward to the transfer window closing: "It will be good because it will allow us to focus on what we love to do, which is build the team knowing that it is settled and all of the emotion around the transfer window has gone."

• William Osula could start as striker against Leeds after "taking his goal brilliantly and giving the team renewed energy" against Liverpool. He added: "He has improved a lot from this time last year. He has gained the knowledge and experience of how we play. He is gaining in confidence and that goal will do him the world of good."

• When asked about Bayer Leverkusen's reported interest in the forward and whether a loan deal might be explored, he replied: "That's for another day. Regular football is something he needs for his career, but whether that's now or in the future, who knows."

• The Champions League draw conjured up some "great games" and he doesn't believe Newcastle United are the "dark horses" of this year's competition.

• He added: "We're just going to try to attack the fixtures in the best way we can. I believe we are more ready than we were last time because there is more experience in the squad and we have been through more together."

• On facing Leeds United, he said: "Their home support is really strong, so we know the start of the game is going to be really important for us. They played very well against Everton and they were strong in the early parts against Arsenal. They have invested well and have some great players." He also praised manager Daniel Farke for doing an "unbelievable job" at Elland Road.

Hear more from Howe on BBC Sounds

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary of Leeds v Newcastle at 17:30 on Saturday

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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German football expert Raphael Honigstein has shared his thoughts on Newcastle United's reported latest signing, Nick Woltemade, highlighting both his potential and areas for growth.

Speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle, Honigstein praised Woltemade's exceptional first touch and his versatility, noting his ability to operate as both a number 10 and a forward. He also revealed that German giants Bayern Munich had shown interest in the 23-year-old.

However, Honigstein urged caution, pointing out that Woltemade is still a work in progress. He only became a regular in the Bundesliga six months ago and remains some way from being the finished product.

"He has a lovely first touch, but he is much more than that; he can play the number 10 as well because he is really skilful on the ball and is somebody who Bayern very much wanted," Honigstein said. "They wanted him as a Harry Kane backup or eventual successor, but now he is going to Newcastle instead.

"I am struggling to find similarities (to Isak). Both are forwards, but very different types of players. I think Isak is all action, fantastic in the press, makes runs, can play wide, and cut inside. Of course, in theory, Woltemade can do all these things as well, but he is about control, he is about skill in tight spaces, he is about being a bit of a battering ram. If his development continues, he could be on a similar level to Isak, but the style is very different, and Newcastle will adjust, and he will adjust.

"I am a little worried that he is not the finished product yet; he only really started being a regular at the Bundesliga level in December. So it has been an almighty six months that catapulted him to being one of the hottest prospects."

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Wolves are ready to reject Newcastle's third bid of £60m for Jorgen Strand Larsen and remain adamant that the 25-year-old Norway striker will not be sold during this transfer window. (Telegraph), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Newcastle's Champions League draw is complete and Eddie Howe's's side now know which eight clubs they will meet in the 36-team league format, which was used for the first time last season.

The Champions League fixture list with match dates and kick-off times will be published no later than Saturday, 30 August.

The Magpies will face:

• Barcelona (H)

• Paris St-Germain (A)

• Benfica (H)

• Bayer Leverkusen (A)

• PSV Eindhoven (H)

• Marseille (A)

• Athletic Bilbao (H)

• Union Saint-Gilloise (A)

Champions League group phase dates:

Matchday 1: 16–18 September 2025

Matchday 2: 30 September–1 October 2025

Matchday 3: 21-22 October 2025

Matchday 4: 4-5 November 2025

Matchday 5: 2-26 November 2025

Matchday 6: 9-10 December 2025

Matchday 7: 20-21 January 2026

Matchday 8: 28 January 2026

Champions League knockout stage dates:

Knockout phase play-offs: 17-18 and 24-25 February 2026

Round of 16: 10-11 and 17-18 March 2026

Quarter-finals: 7-8 and 14-15 April 2026

Semi-finals: 28-29 April and 5-6 May 2026

Final: 30 May 2026, Budapest

See how the rest of the draw played out

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There are six Premier League teams in this season's Champions League.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Tottenham are about to find out who they will face in the league phase of the 2025-26 competition.

Follow it all unfold here

Ciaran Kelly
Football reporter

It is looking increasingly difficult with each passing day.

In truth, trying to replace Callum Wilson has been challenging enough for Newcastle United this summer – let alone signing an additional striker capable of filling Alexander Isak's sizeable boots.

Newcastle have seen top targets like Hugo Ekitike, Benjamin Sesko and Joao Pedro move elsewhere while the club have had offers rejected for Wolves star Jorgen Strand Larsen and Brentford forward Yoane Wissa.

Eddie Howe has always maintained it is about signing the "right" player – when it comes to age, fee, wages and character - but clubs are understandably reluctant to lose key figures so late in the window with little time left to find a replacement.

No wonder Newcastle stated last week that they did not foresee the conditions of Isak's sale being met.

Time will tell if the situation changes, but time is running out.

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We asked for your views on Newcastle's bids for Jorgen Strand Larsen. The Magpies have made two approaches but on BBC Radio Newcastle's Total Sport, one fan questioned if the move was a "panic buy".

Here are some of your comments:

Gareth: £60m is way too much. Why not take a punt on Hojlund or Vlahovic? Half the price and their age is about the same. Could be one to sell on and make more profit on.

Sue: I agree with Anas it would seem like a panic buy.

Les: This would be the ultimate panic buy! He's a goodish player but not a £60m player - £35m or £40m maybe. We don't have much time but need to consider other options. Osula needs to be given more of a chance.

Val: I think we should go for him. He only came on as a sub against West Ham but still scored two goals. We have to think about where we will be if we don't get anyone - and he doesn't have to be a forever signing but we need him now!

Pat: As a Wolves fan, it would be a disaster. I know he wants to leave, but surely the timing isn't right. Back off Newcastle.

Peter: To be honest I think a broom tied to a roller skate would be a decent buy at the moment. We just need players in and are running out of time. Meet the price tag Wolves want and get him in asap.

Russell: If we paid £35/40m I'd say good business but £60m is definitely a panic buy and would show how desperate we actually are. For £60m I'd rather have Wissa.

Rich: Why aren't we signing Jamie Vardy for free on a one-year contract?

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

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There are a couple of unknowns for the Newcastle United delegation who will travel to Monaco for Thursday evening's Champions League draw.

Firstly, who are the eight teams Newcastle will face in the league phase? Secondly, just who will play up front when Eddie Howe's side take on Europe's elite?

Will Newcastle finally reach a breakthrough and sign a centre-forward after previously having bids rejected for Wolves star Jorgen Strand Larsen and Brentford striker Yoane Wissa?

Will it fall to Anthony Gordon to lead the line as the England international did before he was sent off against Liverpool?

Or will Alexander Isak, somehow, be reintegrated if the 25-year-old does not get his move to the champions in the final days of the window?

It could be another few days before the answers to those questions become clearer, but today's draw brings the need for clarity into sharp focus.

After all, in less than three weeks, Newcastle will get their Champions League campaign under way and the black-and-whites are guaranteed to play two of the following giants from pot one: Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund or Barcelona.

Newcastle, in contrast, will be in pot four alongside newcomers like Pafos and FC Kairat on account of the club's low coefficient.

That was also the case before Howe's team were thrown into the group of death with PSG, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan a couple of years ago.

However, this time around, you suspect the competition's league phase format could suit Newcastle better as they will draw two sides from each of the four pots rather than being paired with a single team from pots one, two, and three like in a previous era.

Newcastle may be without a recognised senior striker right now, but the Magpies are the dark horse in pot four that most sides will still want to avoid. Not least at St James' Park.

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Former Manchester United under 18s coach Adam Lawrence will join Newcastle United as their new Under-21s Lead Coach from 1 September.

Lawrence, 38, guided his team to second in the Premier League North and lost to eventual winners Aston Villa in the FA Youth Cup semi-finals on penalties.

His team also won the Premier League regional and national titles as well as the Premier League Cup in the 2023-24 campaign.

Lawrence said: "It's a real privilege to join Newcastle United and to lead the Under-21s squad at such an exciting time for the Academy.

"I've always believed in creating environments where young players can grow - not just as footballers, but as people - and that is something the Academy does very well."

Lawrence spent eight years at Charlton Athletic's Academy as the club's Head of Coaching and also worked within Millwall's youth system.

At Newcastle he will be assisted by Robbie Stockdale, who has been in interim charge of the Under-21s side since the departure of Diarmuid O'Carroll.

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A £60m deal for Jorgen Strand Larsen would represent a "panic buy".

That's the view of Newcastle United fan Anas as the topic was debated on the latest episode of BBC Radio Newcastle's Total Sport.

The Magpies have already made two bids for the striker, with the second at £55m.

"I appreciate that he is only 25-years-old and he scored twice against West Ham but I wouldn't pay that money. It's a panic buy. It really is," said Newcastle fan Anas.

Last season Larsen also scored 14 goals in 30 Premier League starts on loan at Wolves from Celta Vigo, which convinced the Premier League club to sign him on a permanent basis.

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Newcastle are expected to return with an improved offer of £60m for striker Jorgen Strand Larsen after Wolves turned down bids of £50m and £55m for the 25-year-old Norway striker. (Sky Sports), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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The draw has been made for the Carabao Cup third round, with 15 Premier League clubs having made it through or entering at this stage.

There are two all-Premier League ties, while holders Newcastle host League One Bradford City.

Ties will take place across two weeks, beginning on 15 and 22 September.

All the fixtures featuring top-flight sides are shown below in the order they were drawn:

• Port Vale v Arsenal

• Swansea City v Nottingham Forest

• Lincoln City v Chelsea

• Tottenham Hotspur v Doncaster Rovers

• Brentford v Aston Villa

• Huddersfield Town v Manchester City

• Liverpool v Southampton

• Newcastle United v Bradford City

• Wolves v Everton

• Crystal Palace v Millwall

• Burnley v Cardiff City

• Barnsley v Brighton

• Fulham v Cambridge United

See the full draw

The draw for the league phase of the 2025-26 Champions League will take place on Thursday in Monaco.

It will start at 17:00 BST and will follow the same procedure as the 2024-25 campaign - the first season where the 36-team league phase format took place.

The draw is made up of 27 teams that qualified via league positions, the winners of last season's Champions League and Europa League, and the seven teams that progressed out of qualifying.

This season, there are six English sides involved - Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle courtesy of finishing in the Premier League top five, and Tottenham after winning the Europa League.

The teams are split into four pots based on their individual Uefa club coefficient ranking.

Starting with pot one, each team will be drawn out individually. They will then be selected eight opponents via Uefa's automated software.

A team will play eight games in total, including two teams from each pot - one home and one away.

No group-stage fixtures can be played against teams from the same country, nor more than two against teams from the another country.

This procedure will continue until the fixtures for all 36 teams have been decided.

The Champions League fixture list with match dates and kick-off times will be published no later than Saturday, 30 August.

This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.

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Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes says he has had no contact with Alexander Isak but that the Magpies "really miss" the striker's quality.

Isak continues to train alone and - having been the subject of a rejected bid by Liverpool - has segregated himself from Eddie Howe's first time.

Guimaraes told ESPN Brasil it was a "tough situation" for the club's players.

"I haven't had any contact with him. We've been training in the mornings, and he trains at a different time, when no-one from the team is around.

"As captain, and for us players, it's a tough situation because we want to have the best players with us. That's something we can't control. The club, the management, the owners are dealing with it, and I hope it gets sorted out in the best way.

"We're really missing our striker, a player who scored more than 20 goals in the Premier League last season, so of course he's someone we feel the absence of.

"We hope to have our best player back. But unfortunately, this is a situation that neither I nor any other player can control."

Newcastle have had two bids for Wolves' Jorgen Strand Larsen turned down and two offers rejected for Brentford's Yoane Wissa as they pursue possible replacements for Isak and the departed Callum Wilson.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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There was always going to be collateral damage from Alexander Isak's stance at Newcastle and Wolves are feeling that now.

As the striker tries to force a move to Liverpool the Magpies are still scrambling in the last few days of the transfer window.

They have been interested in Porto's Samu Aghehowa but have so far balked at the £60m pricetag for a 21-year-old who scored 27 times last season.

A move for Brentford's Yoane Wissa is yet to come off, with the Bees rejecting two bids - the last being £40m for last season's 19-goal forward.

Like the Bees, Wolves have shown resistance in the face of big money after two bids for Jorgen Strand Larsen and they do not want to sell the 25-year-old.

There is little time in the window to replace the Norway international, especially when Wolves are still looking at bringing in other strikers to support Strand Larsen.

He is their most potent weapon and survival is naturally worth more than the current transfer bids, losing him would put Wolves' top flight status in jeopardy.

A return of 14 goals in 30 Premier League starts during a debut season in England on loan from Celta Vigo helped them survive after Vitor Pereira's December arrival.

Yet Newcastle's desperation could see them throw good money after bad, Strand Larsen is a good player but - having joined permanently from Celta £23m this summer - is he £60m+ good?

The question is when do the Magpies decide it is too much or do circumstances dictate they need him whatever the cost?