Bayern Munich Eyes Nick Woltemade as Harry Kane's Successor
Bayern Munich are already looking beyond Harry Kane – and eyes in Bavaria keep drifting towards Nick Woltemade.
Kane is still rewriting records in Germany, becoming the fastest player ever to reach 100 goals for Bayern. He is the present, emphatically so. But at 33, even a goal machine has a clock ticking in the background, and Bayern’s hierarchy know they cannot wait for the decline before planning the handover.
So the search has started. Quietly. Methodically. And Woltemade’s name will not go away.
The Newcastle United striker, currently on loan at Juventus, is being viewed as a potential long-term heir to Kane, according to talkSPORT. Bayern officials are weighing up options to lead their attack in the coming years, and the 24-year-old Germany international remains high on the list despite a stuttering spell away from the Bundesliga.
Woltemade only arrived at Newcastle from Stuttgart last summer, a move that was itself seen as a coup for the Premier League club. He made an encouraging start in England, scoring eight Premier League goals in his debut campaign. Then the goals dried up. After the turn of the year, he found the net just twice before leaving for Juventus on deadline day.
That dip has not scared everyone off. European football expert Andy Brassell believes Bayern still see an opportunity.
“I still think Woltemade will end up at Bayern at some point,” Brassell told talkSPORT. “They were convinced he would go there before Newcastle. Bayern will look at his situation and think they could get him for pennies on the pound in the future.”
The sense is clear: Bayern thought they had him once. They might not miss a second chance.
For now, Woltemade is trying to reset in Turin. It has been a slow, slightly awkward start. He has managed just 44 minutes across two substitute appearances for Juventus, three attempts on goal, none of them on target. He is not alone in searching for rhythm. Randal Kolo Muani, his fellow forward, is also still trying to find his sharpest form as Juventus attempt to rebuild a misfiring frontline.
Before heading to Italy, Woltemade had only a brief look-in this season at Newcastle. Two appearances, one assist – a neat contribution in a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur – but not enough to suggest he was central to Eddie Howe’s immediate plans.
That is where Bayern see an opening. A talented striker, still approaching his prime, slightly on the outside at both his parent club and his loan side. A profile they know, a market they understand, and a player they once expected to land.
Despite his early struggles in Serie A, Woltemade’s upside remains obvious. He has already shown he can adapt to different leagues, he has a scoring record that hints at far more to come, and he fits the age bracket Bayern want as they map out life after Kane.
Bayern will not rush. They intend to track his progress closely over the course of his loan in Italy, watching how he copes with the demands of Juventus and the scrutiny that comes with European nights.
Those nights start now. Woltemade is hoping to ignite his Bianconeri career when Juventus host Dutch side NEC Nijmegen in their Europa League opener. A strong campaign on that stage could change everything – his status at Juventus, his standing at Newcastle, and the level of noise coming out of Munich.
If he catches fire in Europe, the question will not be whether Bayern come back for him.
It will be how long they are prepared to wait.
