Last season, there were times when Eddie Howe used the German in midfield. This summer, the Magpies signed Matias Fernandez-Pardo, convincing them into letting Woltemade depart on a dry loan.

Soon, it became evident that the Germany international may have to adapt to a new role in Turin. Luciano Spalletti made this very clear, revealing that Woltemade has some work to do to start regularly.

So far, things haven’t taken off and doubts are growing about the striker.

Tactical dilemma growing

Woltemade is yet to start in Serie A for Juve, having come off the bench four times. Against Cagliari at the weekend, he did the same but was used as a box-striker alongside Randal Kolo Muani.

Quotidiano Sportivo note that he has to do more. A big reason behind the failure is a tactical dilemma, as questions are growing over whether he is an out and out goalscorer or not.

Spalletti expects him to be better in that regard, as his skillset isn’t exactly helping Kolo Muani’s strengths either. The Frenchman found the net at the weekend but he isn’t a pure striker either – a bit like Woltemade.

This is making Spalletti consider the idea of signing a pure goalscorer in January.

Gazzetta dello Sport go down the same narrative. They make it clear that Kolo Muani needs help to score more but Woltemade isn’t adding much. That can prompt a reaction in January, with Spalletti looking at someone whose profile is similar to Harry Kane or Erling Haaland.

Nick Woltemade

First-team club career stats

Club	Apps	Goals	Assists
Werder Bremen 2020–2024	51	2	0
SV Elversberg 2022–2023 · loan	32	10	3
VfB Stuttgart 2024–2025	36	18	3
Newcastle United 2025–present	53	11	5
Juventus 2026–present · loan	5	1	0
First-team total*	177	42	11

*Covers first-team league matches, national domestic cups,
German Super Cup and European competitions.
Elversberg figures cover 3. Liga and DFB-Pokal;
regional cup matches are excluded.
Excludes Werder Bremen II, youth football, internationals and friendlies.
Assists follow Opta’s records and may differ from other providers.
Source: Opta Analyst. Checked: 14 October 2026.

Our take: A poorly planned signing

Increasingly, it is clear Juve had no clear plan for Woltemade. Even if they did, they badly profiled him and expected different things than what he can actually offer.

This should alarm Newcastle United, who themselves faced similar problems last season.

However, Woltemade hasn’t exactly been poor when coming off the bench. He made a mark against Cagliari and even against AC Milan. So there is a chance that with time, things could take a positive turn.

The post Newcastle United player turning into a misfit quickly – Big doubts about suitability to manager appeared first on Sport Witness.

That’s because the latter have joined the growing list of clubs’ taking notice of the defender as he continues to impress for the Portuguese side.

Banjaqui is considered a breakout prospect at Benfica, despite having failed to enjoy a major breakthrough in the first team yet.

He debuted last season with three appearances in the first team last season worth 155 minutes. This season he’s on the same amount, but up to 261. The latest of those was 90 minutes in the win over AC Milan in the Europa League last month.

He also shone for the Portugal U21 national team during the break, scoring in a clash with the Czech Republic.

Suitors growing

And, as a result, the list of suitors for him is growing, as reported in Wednesday’s print edition of O Jogo.

A long list of clubs are tracking the 18-year-old and it’s growing by the day. That list includes Newcastle and Manchester United.

Indeed, they are among the four clubs who are taking the lead on the matter. They have already ‘gathered information’ regarding a potential deal. They’re at the front of the queue alongside Barcelona and Inter Milan.

What the costs are looking like

Benfica would be open to a deal in the €35-40m range, although no specific figure has been set. The youngster’s development will play a direct role on that front.

The belief at Benfica is that he will continue to develop at a rapid rate under Marco Silva’s guidance. Thus, his transfer fee will rise too. That could see them push for €50m plus in any deal.

The youngster is tied to a deal until 2031, signed in April. That includes an €80m release clause already. So, there is no need or desire to sell on the cheap.

Newcastle could have an advantage given they signed Amar Dedic in the summer, but it would be a small one if any. The reality is that Manchester United and Europe’s elite are circling looking to ruin their transfer idea.

Benfica to the Premier League

Direct moves · Past 10 years

Year	Player	Destination	Deal
2017	Ederson	Manchester City	Permanent
2017	Victor Lindelöf	Manchester United	Permanent
2018	Raúl Jiménez	Wolverhampton Wanderers	Loan; permanent in 2019
2020	Gedson Fernandes	Tottenham Hotspur	Loan
2020	Rúben Dias	Manchester City	Permanent
2020	Carlos Vinícius	Tottenham Hotspur	Loan
2021	Nuno Tavares	Arsenal	Permanent
2022	Darwin Núñez	Liverpool	Permanent
2022	Carlos Vinícius	Fulham	Permanent*
2023	Enzo Fernández	Chelsea	Permanent
2024	Morato	Nottingham Forest	Permanent
2025	Florentino Luís	Burnley	Loan with purchase obligation
2026	Rodrigo Rêgo	Brighton & Hove Albion	Permanent
2026	António Silva	Bournemouth	Permanent
2026	Amar Dedić	Newcastle United	Permanent
14 players · 15 separate moves

Period: 14 October 2016–14 October 2026.
Includes loans and permanent transfers to clubs competing in
the Premier League in the destination season.
Loan-to-permanent conversions at the same club are counted once.
*Vinícius joined Fulham from parent club Benfica after a loan at PSV.
Rêgo joined Brighton before being loaned to Castellón;
inclusion records the transfer, not a Premier League appearance.
Excludes moves via another permanent club and transfers to
Championship clubs.
Sources: Benfica, Premier League and receiving-club announcements.
Checked: 14 October 2026.

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The Brazilian club have now set a €30m (£26m) asking price for the 24-year-old, who continues to deliver impressive performances.

Palace have already taken a closer look at him in person. And after missing out on him in the summer, Newcastle have also made new enquiries, but there’s competition coming from Italy and Spain.

With January approaching, the two Premier League clubs now have a clearer idea of what it might take to get him.

Newcastle join Crystal Palace in race for Danilo

According to Brazilian outlet RTI Esporte, Newcastle, AS Roma and Real Betis have all made initial enquiries about Danilo Santos.

They also confirmed Crystal Palace are also following his situation, having recently sent Alessandro Brito to watch him against Vasco da Gama. And again: Brito, Palace’s head scout for Latin America, previously worked at Botafogo.

Newcastle’s involvement adds another Premier League club to the picture. But none of the interested sides have submitted an official offer. The report says Botafogo expect further approaches once the January transfer window opens.

Their €30m (£26m) valuation is currently the reference point for any potential deal.

Danilo keeps scoring while Botafogo’s forwards struggle

Meanwhile, Danilo is giving interested clubs even more reasons to watch him. The midfielder scored again on Monday, rescuing a draw against Coritiba. He had already found the net earlier in the match, only for that effort to be ruled out.

Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte highlights how much Botafogo are relying on him, especially with their attacking players struggling for goals.

Danilo has become the team’s main attacking threat despite playing in midfield. He also scored twice in the recent 3-2 victory over Grêmio, helping Botafogo secure three important points.

Across all competitions this season, he has made 37 appearances, scoring 13 goals and providing three assists. That makes him Botafogo’s leading scorer in 2026.

As seen in his World Cup cameos, Danilo Santos regularly pushes forward into the opposition’s penalty area. And even when his teammates began to tire, Danilo continued making runs into dangerous positions.

January could be a busy month

Danilo’s recent involvement with Brazil has also helped raise his profile. He started all three matches during the latest international break, playing 222 minutes in total.

Botafogo know they have a valuable player on their hands. His importance to the team makes the €30m (£26m) asking price understandable, especially given his performances this year.

The next step would be for Palace or Newcastle to turn that interest into an actual proposal.

With Roma and Betis also watching, Botafogo could find themselves dealing with several interested parties in January. And Danilo is doing a pretty good job of keeping his name in the conversation.

The post Crystal Palace and Newcastle United back together on midfielder’s trail – Outscoring his own strikers appeared first on Sport Witness.

Just yesterday, we covered Newcastle sent two scouts to watch the Valencia winger against Racing Santander. They couldn’t have picked a much better day, as the 18-year-old came off the bench to score his first senior goal.

Now, his representative has spoken about the interest from England. And while there’s clearly no shortage of clubs asking about Otorbi, he’s in no hurry to leave Valencia.

Agent confirms calls from Premier League clubs

Speaking to MARCA, Nacho Gallart admitted his client has been attracting quite a bit of attention lately.

Spanish newspaper Marca have picked up his comments today, following their report on Newcastle’s scouting trip.

“He’s a lad who has a big market, and he always has. Quite a few clubs have called us in recent weeks,” Gallart said.

And when asked where those calls were coming from, he pointed straight towards England.

“It’s true that many clubs have called us, especially from the Premier League.”

According to yesterday’s report, both scouts left Santander very impressed. They liked his football, of course, but also his attitude and willingness to take on opponents.

Still, anyone hoping to take Otorbi away from Valencia soon might have a problem.

“We’re very happy at Valencia and, for now, our only objective is to keep learning, keep getting minutes and help the team if the manager thinks it’s appropriate,” Gallart explained.

The agent also made it clear they’re being careful with the youngster’s development.

“We want it to be slow. We believe that’s what’s necessary and we don’t want to rush.”

Newcastle could face a bigger challenge soon

There’s another interesting detail from Gallart’s interview, and it concerns Otorbi’s contract.

The winger signed a new deal in April, keeping him at Valencia until June 2028. However, that agreement includes a clause which could give the Spanish club even more control over his future.

According to his agent, Otorbi’s contract will automatically be extended until 2031 if he makes ten appearances of at least 45 minutes each. So that’s worth keeping an eye on.

The teenager has been getting more opportunities with Valencia’s first team, and his performances are giving the manager good reasons to keep playing him.

Newcastle already had a chance to see his potential during pre-season, when Otorbi featured against them in August. Their decision to send scouts to Santander suggests they’ve liked what they’ve seen since.

For now, though, Gallart is making it pretty clear that Otorbi wants to take his time. Newcastle and the other Premier League clubs can keep calling, but Valencia have a talented youngster on their hands and a contract that could soon become even longer.

The post Agent speaks out as Newcastle United send officials for his rising star appeared first on Sport Witness.

The Colombian has scored in seven consecutive matches for the Portuguese club, something only 12 other players have managed in Sporting’s history.

His latest goal came against Braga on Friday, helping his side to a 3-1 victory. That alone would have been worth mentioning, but the circumstances make it even more impressive.

More than 7,000 kilometres and barely any rest

Suárez had barely returned from international duty with Colombia before making another decisive contribution. And A Bola’s print edition has revealed just how hectic those few days were.

Suárez was still playing for Colombia in Miami in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Portuguese time.

He featured for 61 minutes in their 2-0 victory over Peru, having already played 66 minutes against Mexico and 45 against Paraguay. That’s 172 minutes across three matches, all of which he started.

According to A Bola, Sporting had asked Colombia to manage his workload carefully. However, the national team are still looking to establish their first-choice striker and made full use of Suárez.

Then came the journey home. The 28-year-old travelled more than 6,600 kilometres from Florida to Lisbon, landing in Portugal at 6am on Thursday.

He went home, dropped off his suitcase, packed his training bag and headed straight to Sporting’s academy. No need to explain there was little time to recover.

That afternoon, Suárez travelled north with the rest of the squad, spending the night in Vila Nova de Gaia before Friday’s match in Braga.

Altogether, he covered more than 7,000 kilometres in three days while also dealing with the demands of international football. Rui Borges understandably decided to give him a breather.

Eight minutes were enough

Fotis Ioannidis started against Braga, with Suárez initially watching from the bench. The Colombian eventually came on in the 58th minute. And eight minutes later, he scored Sporting’s equaliser.

He then helped create the move which ended with Braga goalkeeper Bernardo Fontes scoring an own goal, putting Sporting 2-1 ahead.

The visitors eventually won 3-1, with Suárez once again making a difference despite his limited minutes.

That was his eighth goal of the season, with seven coming in the Portuguese league and another in the Champions League. It also extended his scoring streak to seven consecutive Sporting matches.

A Bola point out that this puts him alongside some of the biggest names in the club’s history. Fernando Peyroteo, Héctor Yazalde, Mário Jardel, Bas Dost and Viktor Gyökeres are among the 12 players who previously achieved the same feat.

And there’s another milestone worth mentioning. Suárez has now scored 46 goals for Sporting since joining from Almería in 2025, drawing level with Fredy Montero as the club’s highest-scoring Colombian player.

Luis Suárez at Sporting CP

All competitive first-team matches

Season	Apps	Goals	Assists	Minutes	Mins per goal
2025–26	53	38	8	4,370	115.0
2026–27*	9	8	1	562	70.3
Sporting total	62	46	9	4,932	107.2

*2026–27 figures through 13 October 2026, before the Champions League match against Lens.
Includes Primeira Liga, Taça de Portugal, Taça da Liga,
Portuguese Super Cup and UEFA Champions League.
Excludes internationals and friendlies.
Minutes per goal = total minutes played divided by goals scored,
rounded to one decimal place.
Checked: 13 October 2026.

Sporting getting the best of him again

It’s quite a turnaround from the summer, when Suárez’s future became a major talking point in Portugal.

Newcastle had already made an approach, while Nottingham Forest were linked with a late move in August. Sporting resisted the speculation and kept the striker, who has an €80m (£69m) release clause.

His return from the World Cup was difficult, and he initially lost his starting place to Ioannidis. There were also questions about his commitment following the Fenerbahçe transfer controversy.

Those concerns now seem a long way away. Suárez has responded with goals, and his latest performance suggests even an exhausting international break isn’t enough to slow him down.

Next up is a Champions League trip to Lens on Tuesday. A Bola expect him to return to the starting XI, with Borges having already planned to rotate his strikers across the Braga and Lens fixtures.

In the end, Suárez is once again doing exactly what attracted Newcastle and Forest’s attention in the first place. And Sporting, having spent the summer dealing with questions about his future, are now getting plenty of reasons to be pleased they kept him.

The post Player justifying Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest interest – Remarkable turnaround appeared first on Sport Witness.

The 18-year-old winger scored his first senior goal for Valencia on Sunday, helping them secure a 2-2 draw against Racing Santander. Two Newcastle representatives were in the stands, specifically to watch him.

That scouting trip gets a bit more interesting considering Otorbi’s breakthrough came during pre-season against… Newcastle themselves.

Newcastle scouts impressed by Otorbi

According to Spanish newspaper Marca, two members of Newcastle’s scouting staff travelled to El Sardinero on Sunday to assess the young attacker.

They watched from the directors’ box, taking notes on his performance. The report says their impressions couldn’t have been better.

Otorbi started on the bench, coming on after 58 minutes. He quickly made an impact, beating opponents down the right and causing problems with his pace and movement.

His biggest moment came when he moved inside to meet a pass from Javi Guerra. He finished the move to make it 2-2, scoring his first goal for Valencia’s senior side.

There was nearly an even better ending. In the final moments, Otorbi beat his marker, reached the byline and created a great chance for Hugo Duro. The striker couldn’t convert, leaving Valencia with a point.

Marca also highlight something Newcastle’s scouts particularly appreciated: his personality.

Despite being just 18, Otorbi showed plenty of confidence during his battle with Racing’s left-back. He didn’t back down and kept taking on his opponent. That apparently made quite an impression on the visitors.

Newcastle have already seen what he can do

Otorbi’s breakthrough came during Valencia’s pre-season friendly against Newcastle on August 8th. He played 30 minutes in that 2-1 defeat. Since then, he’s been getting his first senior opportunities in La Liga.

He played the full 90 minutes against Sevilla in September and featured for 76 minutes against Barcelona. His previous appearance, against Real Sociedad, have been also very encouraging. But surely Sunday’s goal gives Newcastle a bigger reason to keep following his progress.

There is, however, a contractual complication if their interest develops into something more serious.

Otorbi signed a new deal with Valencia in April, keeping him at Mestalla until June 2028. The Spanish club also have a unilateral option to extend that agreement by another three seasons. He turns 19 this week, and Valencia clearly have plans for him.

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Sučić joined the La Liga side from Red Bull Salzburg in August 2024 for a reported fee of €10m. He impressed in his debut season but didn’t enjoy regular minutes in his second campaign with La Real.

To put it in context, the midfielder played 1,351 minutes from 28 matches, managing four goals and three assists. That didn’t put off Newcastle United, mainly because of Matthias Jaissle.

The Magpies appointed the German as Eddie Howe’s successor in August. The 24-year-old has played under the manager at the Austrian club and FC Liefering. He had 12 goals and 11 assists from 73 matches under Jaissle and five were at Liefering.

Newcastle United manager keen 

Matthias Jaissle wanted to reunite with the Croatia international at St. James’ Park during the last window.

In August, Sport Witness covered a report from Croatia that the manager’s big wish was to sign his former player. However, the Tyneside club weren’t able to complete the deal.

That hasn’t put them off as Sky Deutschland cover the latest. Newcastle United played their hand with this operation in the summer, but the move didn’t go through.

Luka Sučić has three goals from eight league matches this season and the Magpies are still pursuing him. This is because of their manager, who is the player’s ‘biggest supporter’.

Deal straightforward for Newcastle United 

The Croatian has a contract until 2029 and his value, as per Transfermarkt, is €15m. The highest was €20m in May 2022, when he was under Matthias Jaissle’s orders at Red Bull Salzburg.

He has a €60m release clause and Real Sociedad consider Luka Sučić as one of their most influential players. Taking this into account, La Real are unlikely to let him leave for less than €60m.

The operation won’t be cheap for Newcastle United. However, the clause allows them to secure his services by only agreeing terms with the midfielder.

Borussia Dortmund have also looked at him. Sky makes no mention of whether Newcastle United intend to trigger his clause.

Last month, Sport Witness covered a report from Spain explaining that the Magpies are considering Sučić’s €60m clause. That seems to be the only way for them or another club to sign him either in January or next summer.

Luka Sučić

Senior club career stats

Club	Apps	Goals	Assists
FC Liefering 2019–2021	26	6	8
Red Bull Salzburg 2020–2024	128	18	16
Real Sociedad 2024–present	77	10	4
Career total	231	34	28

All competitive senior club matches, including domestic cups and European competitions.
Liefering figures cover Austria’s second division.
Excludes academy football, UEFA Youth League, internationals and friendlies.
Source: Opta Analyst. Updated: 13 October 2026.

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The defender has become a regular at right-back under Luciano Spalletti. This has also made him a part of the French national team, which wasn’t the case at AC Milan, where he won the Serie A.

Sport Witness have previously tracked Manchester United’s interest in the defender. They scouted him extensively last season at a point when his momentum was going in the right direction.

Details are now emerging about his situation, with Juventus alert to a renewal.

Bianconeri reacting to interest

TuttoJuve report that Manchester United are still actively monitoring Kalulu’s situation. They are now facing competition from Newcastle United and Liverpool, who have been in the chase for a year now.

Most importantly, the report adds Paris Saint-Germain as a suitor for the defender.

Kalulu is seen as a possible back-up to Achraf Hakimi by the Ligue 1 giants. Juve are aware of growing interest and are ‘playing ahead of the curve’ in the situation.

This is why they’re working to finalise a new deal for the defender. Their aim is to tie him down before the end of the year, with a renewal for Nico Gonzalez already done.

Suitors remain keen on the player, which is forcing the Old Lady into acting fast.

Our take: Player deserves step-up

Kalulu has always been a versatile player but he has now found stability at right-back under Spalletti. His consistency means he deserves a step-up, which could come at either Juve or at Manchester United, Liverpool or Newcastle United.

His ability to play across the backline should appeal to all the suitors quite a bit. He can play in a variety of shapes too, having also filled in at wing-back under the Italian.

While Juve are trying to renew his deal, he is a player the three English clubs should continue to monitor.

The post ‘Playing ahead of the curve’ – Newcastle United, Manchester United and Liverpool interest forcing club to act appeared first on Sport Witness.

The Croatia international spent his entire playing career in his country prior to his move to Italy. He left Dinamo Zagreb for Inter Milan in July 2025 for a reported fee of €15m.

His performances in his debut season attracted interest from Newcastle United, Everton and a few other clubs. However, a move never materialised, and the 22-year-old is still at the San Siro.

Last season, Sučić played 2,549 minutes from 50 matches, managing four goals and four assists. This season, Inter manager Cristian Chivu mainly utilised him as a substitute as he started two out of the five matches.

Newcastle United and Everton faced rejection 

In July, Sport Witness covered a report from Italy explaining that the Magpies and Leeds United were willing to offer €35-40m for the midfielder. There was no mention of Everton.

Eddie Howe was then in charge at the Tyneside club, who appointed Matthias Jaissle as his successor in August. Fast forward to October and Sportske Novosti now mentions both Newcastle United and Everton when covering the latest.

Petar Sučić had attracted interest from the Premier League duo in the summer. However, the Nerazzurri rejected their approaches and made it clear the player is not for sale.

Nicolò Barella, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Curtis Jones and Piotr Zieliński are ahead of Petar Sučić at the San Siro. The latter also faces competition from Aleksandar Stanković and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

For now, he is patient and isn’t thinking about leaving after enjoying his debut season. The Croatian believes he can convince Cristian Chivu to get ahead in the pecking order to regain his place. If that happens, there won’t be any transfer talks.

New opportunity for Newcastle United and Everton 

Sporting director Piero Ausilio, who signed him for the Serie A winners, has left the club. Things have changed at Inter Milan, who could sell Petar Sučić for ‘good compensation’, without the mention of a figure.

The midfielder isn’t rushing as it’s too early in the season. The next few months will give him a real indication of his status at the club. Should Cristian Chivu continue to utilise him as a substitute, the door to leave the San Siro could open as early as January.

This would provide Newcastle United and Everton another opportunity to try and sign him.

Sportske Novost states: ‘If word gets out among the clubs that Inter might agree to a sale, he probably wouldn’t have to think about a new destination for long.’

‘However, he’s not one of those who would retreat and look for an alternative path, he always wants to be a winner, he’s an athlete who is determined to prove himself wherever he can and needs to be. That’s how he views his current situation at Inter.’ 

Newcastle United, Everton and his other suitors will keep a close watch on his situation at Inter.

The post Newcastle United and Everton approaches revealed – Croatian can move in January appeared first on Sport Witness.

The Magpies were among the clubs interested in the 20-year-old during the summer. Atletico Madrid were also keeping an eye on him, but Porto managed to keep hold of their player.

Now he’s getting his reward. Gomes has just agreed to stay until June 2031, with his release clause rising to €100m (£87m).

That’s €20m (£17.4m) more than before, making a potential move to Newcastle considerably more expensive.

Porto reward Gomes after Newcastle interest

So, Porto have reached an agreement with Gomes to extend his contract by another two years, as explained by ESPN Brazil. His previous deal ran until 2029.

They explain that the Portuguese club have also raised his release clause from €80m (£69.6m) to €100m (£87m).

Globo Esporte backs up the information and adds that Porto should officially announce the agreement in the coming days.

Of course, Gomes has become a regular starter under manager Francesco Farioli, and Porto are enjoying an excellent start to the season.

They currently lead the Portuguese league with seven wins from seven matches. The Brazilian has contributed two goals and two assists during that run.

He also played an important part in last season’s league title, scoring 13 goals in 46 appearances across the campaign.

What this means for Newcastle and other admirers

Newcastle aren’t the only Premier League club to have shown an interest in Gomes. Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea have all been linked with him this year. Liverpool were also mentioned more recently, although those rumours appeared mainly on social media.

Portuguese newspaper Record played down the Liverpool talk at the time, explaining that Porto hadn’t received any proposals for the winger.

Newcastle’s interest, meanwhile, has been mentioned again by Brazilian journalists covering the contract renewal.

There’s no suggestion the Magpies are currently preparing another move. Still, the new agreement changes the financial picture should they decide to return.

Porto clearly believe Gomes can become even more valuable. Globo Esporte also explains that his development in Portugal is helping his ambition of breaking into Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad.

Fair to say his progress has been impressive, and Porto now have him tied down for almost five more years. Newcastle will keep watch, but Gomes is staying in Portugal for now, and any future attempt to sign him will come with a much bigger price tag.

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