Newcastle United are travelling to West Yorkshire to face Leeds United this Saturday, with injury concerns for both and ongoing transfer sagas.
Leeds United are looking to add to their 10 signings, while an Alexander Isak sized cloud hangs over Newcastle United ahead of the transfer window slamming shut.
There are more concerns than that, however. Newcastle’s injury issues ahead of the trip to Leeds are sizeable, while Leeds forward Noah Okafor will miss the Newcastle clash at Elland Road on Saturday evening.
New signings could still be made in time, providing they are signed and sealed before midday tomorrow. Players must be registered before 12pm on Friday.
Potential Alexander Isak replacement Nick Woltemade closes in on Newcastle ahead of Leeds clash
Farke has hinted at a change for Leeds’ shape against the Magpies. However, the quality between the newly-promoted side and the UEFA Champions League outfit is also a consideration.
Gary Neville and Roy Keane believe Newcastle will draw with Leeds. That same sentiment has been shared in Chris Sutton’s Leeds vs Newcastle prediction for the BBC.
Paul Merson agrees about Leeds vs Newcastle. However, all of the above could change if Newcastle find an Isak replacement to spearhead their attack in the absence of the suspended Anthony Gordon.
Newcastle have had Artem Dovbyk interest, with the striker thought to be a Leeds target at one stage of the window. The Magpies need to potentially replace Isak before the transfer deadline.
Sky Sports’ Keith Downie has revealed that Newcastle have agreed a fee with VfB Stuttgart to sign forward Nick Woltemade, teammate of Leeds target Emerdin Demirovic. He adds that they have agreed to pay £60.5 million plus £4.5 million in add-ons.
Leeds have had the better of Newcastle in recent years but Downie has provided another update regarding an overall fee higher than £65 million. It’s also confirmed that he is having a medical this morning.
Woltemade could also be in line to feature against Ilia Gruev, having also played alongside the Bulgarian for Werder Bremen a few seasons ago.
How likely is Nick Woltemade to be involved against Leeds?
That update shows it is a club record £69 million package and the German international will travel to the North East for a medical on Friday. However, as mentioned, that must all be finalised before midday for him to take part at Elland Road.
Speaking of strikers, Dominic Calvert-Lewin could feature against Newcastle despite only playing for just over half-an-hour against Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday.
It could be a battle of new No.9s at Elland Road, with Callum Wilson vacating that shirt number and Newcastle likely to hand it to Woltemade.
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