Has Nick Woltemade Done Enough to Replace Alexander Isak?

Newcastle United supporters love their centre forwards. The number nine shirt, for instance, is iconic and revered at St James’ Park with Alan Shearer perhaps the biggest legend to have worn the famous shirt. Besides the number, fans of the Magpies simply adore players who will regularly stick the ball in the back of the net.

Alexander Isak certainly knew where the goal was when wearing Newcastle’s colours and so that’s why followers of the club were so disappointed by his departure. German striker Nick Woltemade was brought in as a replacement and has the potential to be a fan favourite. So, how do the two frontmen compare? This article will focus on the striker and take a look.

Alexander Isak Impact

Alexander Isak had long been considered one of the top talents in world football when it came to scoring goals and the forward really proved that at Newcastle. After stints with AIK and Borussia Dortmund it was with Real Sociedad in Spain that Isak really started making headlines, scoring 33 league goals in LaLiga while also helping the club win the Copa Del Rey in 2020.

A record £60m transfer to Newcastle followed in 2022 and Isak swiftly became one of the top marksmen in the Premier League. Scoring double figures in each campaign he appeared, the striker helped the Magpies qualify for the Champions League and scored a total of 62 goals in 109 matches across all competitions.

Isak was adored by the St James’ Park faithful though the situation sadly turned sour when he pushed to join champions Liverpool in the summer of 2025. Departing for Anfield in a £125million deal, Newcastle fans were gutted by the scenario and knew the club needed to now go out and find a replacement for a player who was netting at a rate of more than a goal every two games.

Nick Woltemade Signing

Newcastle opted to sign Germany international forward Nick Woltemade who is two-and-a-half years younger than Isak and boasts big potential to be a leading striker for years to come. The towering frontman stands at 6ft 6in but his height is deceiving as he is excellent with the ball at his feet and shows great skill to beat defenders.

When Woltemade arrived at St Jame’s Park after scoring 12 goals in 28 Bundesliga games for Stuttgart and so observers will have started to assess the forward’s chances of repeating that form in England. Some football enthusiasts will have looked at the numbers and opted to predict Woltemade’s figures come the end of the season.

Nick Woltemade’s arrival gave Newcastle real hope of qualifying for the Champions League for a second season in a row, with fans believing the squad still had the quality to challenge at the top. However, a tricky start to the campaign and inconsistent results have made that target harder to reach. With the Premier League as competitive as ever, odds from 888Sport now suggest the Magpies could finish just outside the top six. For supporters interested in the betting markets, the latest bonus information for 888sport is available via Oddspedia, providing a useful guide for those keeping track of Newcastle’s chances.

The Striker’s Start to Life at Newcastle

Woltemade will have been hoping for a strong start to life in the North East following his summer move from Stuttgart and it couldn’t have gone more perfectly as the German headed home the winning goal on his debut against Wolves in front of thousands of adoring fans at St James’ Park.

The centre forward then led the line against Barcelona in the Champions League before scoring in four straight matches to adhere himself to the Magpies faithful. Netting against Arsenal in the Premier League, the German then grabbed another in a comprehensive European win over Union Saint-Gilloise before scoring the winner in a league victory over Nottingham Forest. Woltemade followed this up by equalising down at Brighton.

Since then, the centre forward has also scored in wins over Tottenham and Everton before getting a brace in a 2-2 draw at Chelsea.

How the Forwards Compare

Newcastle were disappointed in the way Alexander Isak left the club but will have still missed his presence and goals upfront. However, the fact Woltemade hit the ground running will have given both the player and the fans confidence. Magpies heading to the game will have been relieved to replace Isak with another towering frontman they can fall in love with on matchday.

However, while Woltemade has scored goals like Isak, the two frontmen are actually rather different players. Isak is a more of a goalscorer and will often get into positions where it is just him and the goalkeeper. Woltemade finds himself in more varied parts of the pitch and will link up more play than Isak. The German is capable of holding onto the ball and beating a man before laying the ball to a winger, for example.

Legendary Newcastle Strikers

Alan Shearer is a massive legend in Newcastle having grown up supporting the Magpies before wearing the famous number nine shirt for the club. The forward is the top scorer in Premier League history, netting 260 times and most of those goals came in the black and white of Newcastle.

Malcolm Macdonald, Andy Cole, Jackie Milburn and Hughie Gallacher are among the other strikers to go down in Magpies folklore having regularly found the net for the North East club.

Summing Up

Nick Woltemade has made a positive start to life as a Newcastle striker and supporters will feel hopeful that the German has what it takes to replace Alexander Isak during the years to come. It will be interesting to watch his Magpies career unfold and progress.