22y/o has ‘agreement’ over Newcastle United January transfer as Eddie Howe makes ‘never certain’ claim
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Newcastle United latest news: Eddie Howe has spoken about the club’s upcoming January transfer window amid rumours that one striker could leave St James’ Park.
Eddie Howe has not ruled-out sales at Newcastle United in January, but has stressed that the club are not in a position to make wholesale changes next month.
The Magpies have been very quiet over the last two winter windows and have not made a single senior signing since their double acquisition of Harrison Ashby and Anthony Gordon during the 2023 winter window. Financial restrictions have limited what they could spend in the previous two January transfer windows, but their PSR position is a lot healthier heading into the upcoming window.
That PSR position could be strengthened with player sales this month, but Howe has insisted that, because of their current injury situation, they are not currently in a position to be moving players on next month: “It’s not high on my agenda with the squad that we currently have to be losing players, but we will see as players return from injury,” Howe said.
“It’s never a certain thing until they are actually back performing. Between us and them, if there is anyone in the squad that we feel will benefit from going, then we will look at it on an individual basis.”
One player who has been linked with a move away from the club is Will Osula. Osula almost left on deadline day in the summer amid late interest from Eintracht Frankfurt.
That deal didn’t progress and Osula remained a Magpies player, however, reports from Sky Sports Germany insist that interest from the Bundesliga side has not gone away with reporter Florian Plettenberg claiming that the player has ‘an agreement’ over a move should the two clubs come to an agreement themselves.
He posted on X: ‘Eintracht Frankfurt and Newcastle are continuing negotiations over a loan deal with a purchase option for William #Osula. The 22 y/o striker wants the move, is in agreement with #SGE and is waiting for the clubs to reach an agreement. #NUFC.’
Eddie Howe opens up on potential January transfer signings
Whilst the club will be assessing options across the pitch, Newcastle United’s current defensive injury crisis could force them into the market for reinforcements. Howe has just three fit senior defenders available for selection at this current time, just over a week until the winter window opens.
So has he and the club begun planning for what they can do when the winter window opens? "I think it's going to be a consistently moving thing for us,” Howe responded.
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“I've had brief discussions, and I wouldn't say detailed at this moment, because we don't really know how we're going to look injury-wise as we turn the year.
“We've got a group of players that we anticipate will be very close to coming back around that time, so that will obviously impact, if they do come back, our business, and if they don't come back, again, that could potentially impact what we do. So, keeping very much an open mind at this stage.”
The January transfer window will also be the first window overseen by the club’s new sporting director Ross Wilson. Wilson joined Newcastle United from Nottingham Forest in October, replacing Paul Mitchell in the role.