Newcastle United’s winger, Anthony Gordon, has made headlines by likening his new team-mate, Nick Woltemade, to England’s talisman Harry Kane. The comparison arises after Bayern Munich opted not to match Newcastle’s £69 million bid for the promising German striker, allowing the Magpies to secure his services.
Woltemade has swiftly adapted to the rigours of the Premier League, netting three goals in four matches against the likes of Wolves, Arsenal, and Nottingham Forest, in addition to marking his name on the scoresheet in the Champions League. His impressive performances suggest Newcastle’s hefty investment is paying dividends.
Bayern Munich’s interest in Woltemade was well-documented, with the prospect of pairing him with Harry Kane tantalising for many. However, their reluctance to meet the transfer fee paved the way for Newcastle to acquire a player of Kane’s calibre, according to Gordon. He stated: “I think they do play a very similar style of football. They want to almost be the quarterback – come in and create, not just finish chances like a typical striker.”
Gordon further explained that Woltemade’s playing style complements his own: “For me, personally, I think it helps me – my style suits playing with that type of striker because I can run off them. If defenders want to engage with them, I can run off the back, so it’s really positive for me and I really enjoy it.”
However, it was Bayern’s Karl-Heinz Rummenigge’s remarks that sparked controversy. He commented: “I can only congratulate the people in Stuttgart for finding – let me use quotation marks here – ‘a fool’ who paid that much money, because we certainly wouldn’t have done that in Munich.” Gordon did not take kindly to these comments, responding: “I don’t know why you’d comment on a player who is not at your club. It’s a bit stupid, especially when the player has started really well.”
While Gordon sees striking similarities with Kane, he acknowledged that Woltemade differs from former team-mate Alexander Isak, stating: “They’re two completely different players, so it’s going to take us time to get used to his style of play.”
Nonetheless, Newcastle seem to be adapting effectively, with Woltemade utilising his towering 6ft 5in frame to score two headers already.
As the season unfolds, all eyes will be on whether Newcastle’s gamble pays off, with Woltemade’s performances continuing to draw enviable comparisons to one of the Premier League’s finest.
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