Newcastle United have been made to deal with another series of comments from Bayern Munich's transfer chiefs regarding Nick Woltemade's move to St James' Park this summer.

The 23-year-old became the Magpies' record transfer signing when joining from VfB Stuttgart for a transfer fee worth £69million. This week, Bayern sporting director, Max Eberl, has claimed Woltemade repeatedly told the Bundesliga club he wished to join them.

However, Vincent Kompany's men would not match Stuttgart's asking price. Earlier this summer, Bayern director Karl-Heinz Rummenigge called Newcastle 'idiots' for paying Stuttgart's asking price for the Germany international, while Uli Hoeness claimed Newcastle were playing 'monopoly' in the transfer market.

However, the suggestion that the Magpies flexed their financial muscles - and 'overpaid' for Woltemade without much thought - could not be further from the truth.

German publication absolute.fussball claims Newcastle had made their intentions to sign Woltemade clear much earlier than previously thought. The exclusive report states that Bayern Munich's advances for the frontman - an initial €45 million, then €55m and €65m were enough to even...