Newcastle are set to complete a £65million deal for Germany striker Nick Woltemade, in a move that has huge implications for Liverpool’s hopes of signing Alexander Isak.
Woltemade, 23, was flying to Tyneside on Thursday night ahead of a medical after a deal was agreed with Stuttgart earlier in the day.
There is an outside chance he is registered in time for his debut at Leeds on Saturday.
The move will bring a close to Newcastle’s summer-long pursuit of a striker and comes after a secret summit involving the club’s owners at Isak’s home on Monday failed to bring a resolution.
The Swede reiterated his desire to join Liverpool and sources say there is an acceptance that a sale would be best for all parties.
The Magpies have seen two offers for Wolves striker Jorgen Strand-Larsen rejected this week but they have moved quickly on Woltemade, who was one of the stars of this summer’s Under-21 European Championship and has been a target of Bayern Munich in recent weeks.
Newcastle are closing in on a deal for Stuttgart’s Germany striker Nick Woltemade
The transfer could see movement on Alexander Isak’s move to Liverpool this window
We understand Newcastle’s striker search is not over and, while a deal for Larsen is difficult with Wolves insisting he is not for sale, there is hope of progress on Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.
Liverpool are now almost certain to return with a second offer for Isak after their opening bid of £110m was rejected earlier this month.
Newcastle have privately insisted they would need two strikers before selling Isak, but the arrival of Woltemade is a significant step closer to a British record deal north of £130m going through before Monday’s deadline.