High transfer fee justified
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DFB sports director Rudi Völler is impressed by the development of German national striker Nick Woltemade. “I was already there permanently with the U21, and everyone knew that he could do something. Now no one talks about the 80 million euro transfer fee for his move to Newcastle. In the end, that was almost a bargain (laughs). His quality is extraordinary,” Völler told the “Kicker”.
Woltemade moved to Newcastle United in the summer after FC Bayern no longer wanted to bid in the transfer poker given the high demands of VfB Stuttgart. With his initial transfer fee of 75 million euros, he has been one of the four most expensive German footballers in history since this summer. Its market value has risen sharply in the past few weeks and is now at 70 million euros.
The 23-year-old was able to impress straight away in the Premier League and scored seven goals in 14 games. Only at the weekend did he score a brace in the 2-2 draw against Chelsea. Woltemade has also scored four goals in eight games in the national team.
Ter Stegen needs match practice for the DFB team
With a view to the occupation in the German goal, Völler made it clear to Marc-André ter Stegen that the ex-Gladbacher needs match practice. “Regardless of whether he continues in Barcelona or somewhere else, in the end he has to play. And then we will all be happy for him if, after many years as a world-class goalkeeper behind Manuel Neuer, he gets the opportunity to be in goal at a World Cup,” said Völler.
Ter Stegen recently made his comeback to Barça in the cup after back surgery. For coach Hansi Flick, Joan García is number one. So the German keeper may only have a change in the winter to get back to playing time. There have recently been rumors about Tottenham, Besiktas and Girona FC.
According to Völler, it is quite possible that the national team’s number one will not yet be determined in March. “It may be that it’s still a bit open, a lot depends on Marc-André. What’s next for him? What’s he doing now?” said the 1990 world champion, emphasizing that deputy Oliver Baumann is doing wonderfully “so far.”