Eddie Howe makes new plan to unlock Nick Woltemade after Newcastle exit news
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Football Insider or go back to LFC Live.
(Credit: Imago) Mon 23 February 2026 7:00, UK Nick Woltemade’s Newcastle career could be reignited by Eddie Howe continuing to deploy him in attacking midfield rather than as a striker.Woltemade has required a real lift after some lacklustre recent form, and Howe believes that he has a future as a number 10 in his starting eleven.He got off to a fine start at Newcastle, with six strikes in his first 11 games after a summer move from Stuttgart, but his rate of scoring has slowed down in the last few months.Woltemade has scored just once in his last 16 appearances across all competitions for the Magpies, but put in two impressive midfield performances against Aston Villa and Qarabag in the last week.Recent reports have claimed that he is unhappy on Tyneside and wants to move back to Germany, but as I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, Howe could change his mind by trusting him as a number 10 for the remainder of the campaign.Credit: ImagoRead more: Eddie Howe’s stance on Newcastle accepting Nick Woltemade offerEddie Howe wants Nick Woltemade to stay and may utilise him in midfieldHowe hit back at claims of Woltemade wanting to leave the club last week by insisting that he remains “really happy” at St James’ Park. MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES His performance as a number 10 in their 6-1 rout of Qarabag was certainly an improvement on his recent showings as a striker, and the Magpies boss may well continue to trust him to play behind the centre-forward.Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, I said: “Eddie Howe and the rest of the coaching staff at Newcastle will want to keep hold of Woltemade, and they’ll be expecting an improvement from him next season once he’s had a full year of adaptation in the Premier League.“He played in a new role in the Champions League playoff against Qarabag, playing as a number 10, and he did quite well in that position rather than playing as a number nine.
“So let’s see between now and the end of season if he’ll be used more in that role, and maybe that will be a position where we’ll see the best of Nick Woltemade.“If that’s the case, then Newcastle will be very happy with him.”Read more: Sources: Newcastle plan talks with star player after Man City updateNewcastle plotting new contract talks with Tino Livramento amid Man City interestLivramento is another young star that Newcastle do not wish to lose this summer, amid ongoing interest in his services from Man City.The England right-back has been heavily linked to the Citizens over the last 12 months, due to his standout Magpies performances, but has seen his progress hampered by recurring injury problems this season.Sources have now told Football Insider that Newcastle remain locked in contract talks with Livramento, with City planning to make a move to sign him this summer.It remains unclear whether he will sign a new deal at St James’ Park, but even if he doesn’t, Newcastle will be relaxed about his future with his current deal set to run until 2028.