Eddie Howe's £119m Newcastle United wish ahead of 2026-27 season
Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa have endured a difficult first season at Newcastle United.
Eddie Howe wishes to keep both Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa at Newcastle United next season.
The Magpies paid a combined £119million to sign the two strikers last summer from Stuttgart and Brentford, respectively, but both have endured a difficult debut campaign.
Woltemade has struggled to live up to his early promise, scoring just one of his 10 goals this season in 2026. The German last started a game up front in February, having been deployed in midfield in recent months.
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The 24-year-old had been named on the bench for the previous four matches before being recalled to the starting line-up for the 1-1 draw away to Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Wissa, meanwhile, hasn’t featured in the starting XI since February when the Magpies lost 3-2 to his former club Brentford at St James’ Park.
The 29-year-old sustained a knee injury on international duty with DR Congo just a week after joining Newcastle, so he had to wait until December to make his debut.
Both Wissa and Howe have since admitted the player rushed back, resulting in a lack of match fitness and sharpness. He has managed just three goals in 26 appearances.
Eddie Howe wants Nick Woltemade & Yoane Wissa to stay at NUFC
With the pair struggling for form and game time, speculation has turned to whether either or both will remain at St James’ Park next season.
In response, Howe said he wants both players to stay but couldn’t give ‘absolute certainty’.
Howe said: “Yeah, I do. It's difficult for me to give absolute certainty to that because the players themselves will have a big say in that as well. But my wish is that they are both here.
“I really think they've got outstanding qualities. I think they can make a difference. They're very different players, of course, I wouldn't compare them, but I think they can really help the team.”
Howe added: “I'd say the same. Again, consistently all season, I think for a lot of the new players, I think their best performances are ahead of them. I think they're all very, very good players.
“You just need a little bit of time, patience, work on the training pitch, and of course then the players have to deliver, but I'm confident they're all outstanding players.”
What have Nick Woltemade & Yoane Wissa said?
While Woltemade has refrained from commenting on his future publicly, Wissa, in an interview released earlier this season, made his determination to succeed next season clear.
Wissa said: “I am a soldier. I can make so many mistakes and I will keep making so many mistakes because I am human but what I want them [Newcastle fans] to know is the love I’ve got for this shirt. I’m looking forward to next season.
“I think I understand now how big this club is and how important it is. I hope I am going to do better and I will try my best to do better for sure because for me, it is more important than anything else.
“To perform at Newcastle is something unbelievable for me because even when I was young, I never expected to be here. I am very proud and grateful to be here, so I just need to show.”