Newcastle Interested in Aston Villa Striker Ollie Watkins as Nick Woltemade Replacement

Newcastle United are monitoring Ollie Watkins’ situation at Aston Villa as they line up replacements for Nick Woltemade, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

The German international has struggled to make the grade at St James’s Park since the Magpies signed him for a club record £65million in the summer.

Eddie Howe also spent £50million on Brentford’s Yoann Wissa as they sought to replace Swedish international Alexander Isak, who eventually moved to Liverpool for a British record £125million following a drawn out transfer saga.

But between them they have managedd just seven Premier League goals this term with Anthony Gordon, who has hit double figures in the Champions League, regularly being used as the club’s first-choice striker. 

Our sources understand there is interest in Woltermade from his native Germany, which would free up space in his squad and funds for a move for Watkins. 

It is understood internal talks have already begun in the Newcastle boardroom over the possibility of signing Watkins, 30, this summer.

England international Watkins has led the line admirably for Villa since moving to the club in 2020, but is currently in the middle of his worst season since heading to the midlands. 

Unai Emery signed former Chelsea hitman Tammy Abraham during the winter window and is looking to further bolster his strike stocks in the summer to allow Watkins a fresh start elsewhere. 

Villa have also been linked with Brentford's Igor Thiago and Real Madrid's Gonzalo Garcia as they look for a future proof option. 

Goal Getter

Watkins signed for Villa for a club-record £28million, which would rise to £33million with add-ons, from Brentford.

During the 2023/24 campaign, where he netted 27 goals across the Premier League and the Conference League, he was awarded the club’s Supporters’ Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year gongs.

Across his six-season stay at the club, Watkins has netted 95 times with 83 of those coming in 211 Premier League games.

Earlier in his career, he bagged 45 goals for Brentford in the Championship with his tally of 25 in the 2019/20 campaign earning his move to Villa, with former club Exeter City bagging a whopping £4million from their sell-on clause.