(Credit: Imago)

Ciaran Morrison

Sun 3 May 2026 8:30, UK

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Newcastle United will have to plan their transfer business well if they want to avoid a repeat of last summer.

That is the view of former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking to Football Insider, as the Magpies could face difficulty selling Nick Woltemade.

The German striker could return to the Bundesliga after only one season at Newcastle, as the 24-year-old has failed to live up to his £69million price tag.

Eddie Howe has experimented with Woltemade up-front and in midfield, but with Yoane Wissa also failing to score goals, the club need funds to sign a new striker this summer.

Newcastle’s summer transfer plans will have been a point of discussion at the club’s annual meeting, where Howe will have met key figures like chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan to talk over what business he wants to conduct in the market.

PIF want answers on Newcastle’s transfer plans

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes there are currently “huge question marks” over whether the club can offload Woltemade this summer.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks “heads will roll” within the club if their summer turns out to be another “disaster.”

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “There’s a huge question mark there as to how Woltemade’s going to be played, if he is going to be played and if there’s a market for him in Germany.

“This summer, it’s going to be a buyer’s market. I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of money for a lot of players. They’re going to be chasing deals if they’re trying to sell rather than buy. And so it’s going to be a difficult summer.

“That’s what the meeting with the PIF will have partly been about, what is that squad planning, and what is the realistic solution, and where are we in terms of conversations about potential deals being done?

“This has got to be really planned well and executed well. And recovering from last summer’s disaster, they’ve got to get it right this year. Otherwise, heads will roll.”

Newcastle ready to accept Yoane Wissa bid

Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Newcastle are prepared to make a loss on Yoane Wissa this summer.

Signed alongside Woltemade to help replace the goals of Alexander Isak, Wissa’s campaign has been disrupted by injuries and the 29-year-old has not been able to find any form.

The Magpies paid Brentford £55m for Wissa, and with his return of just three goals in all competitions this season, it seems unlikely that any club will be paying close to that figure this summer.

Wissa only has four more Newcastle games this season to make an impact at St James’ Park, but Howe has recently preferred Will Osula up-front over any of his more experienced options.