Woltemade's shirt number and £45m twist as TWO more push to join Newcastle

Nick Woltemade's official move to Newcastle United will be announced soon, with the 23-year-old completing his medical and all the formalities after a deal worth £69m was agreed with Stuttgart.

Sky Sports' Keith Downie has revealed that the big man will wear the number 27 shirt at Newcastle, with the club opting to leave the No.9 shirt vacant in the hope of another striker arriving.

Woltemade is earmarked as Alexander Isak's long-term replacement, but a second forward is essential to sanction the Swede's sale, with former number 9 Callum Wilson yet to be replaced.

This brings us nicely to two players vying for that shirt - Yoane Wissa and Jorgen Strand Larsen.

On that note, the big news from Brentford on Friday afternoon is that they have now launched a £45m club-record bid for Borussia Dortmund striker Max Beier.

Land him and Wissa's move to St James' Park is expected to go ahead, although it seems Brentford will have to improve that offer or look elsewhere, with David Ornstein reporting that £45m has been turned down by Dortmund.

As for Strand Larsen, The Mail's Craig Hope insists that Newcastle are still in the mix for the Wolves striker, suggesting moves for Wissa and Larsen remain open as we hope for the dominoes to fall between now and Monday's 7pm deadline.

The 25-year-old Norwegian is set to miss their home clash with Everton, with the big man nursing a knock but also making Wolves aware of his desire to leave for Newcastle over the next few days.

Newcastle are now considering a third offer for the former Celta Vigo star, despite Wolves rejecting £50m and £55m bids this week, insisting he is not for sale unless TWO strikers arrive first.