‘100% done’ - Sky Sport make bold Newcastle United transfer claim as striker set to miss Leeds United clash
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Newcastle United latest news: William Osula continues to be linked with a move away from the club this month.
Reports in Germany continue to link Newcastle United striker William Osula with a move to Eintracht Frankfurt this summer.
Osula was wanted by the Bundesliga side in the final hours of the summer window, with the 22-year-old even putting on hold training with his Danish international teammates on deadline day to advance that move. However, the deal was pulled at the eleventh-hour and he remained a Newcastle United player.
That would be to the Magpies’ fortune as they then saw Yoane Wissa pick up a knee injury whilst on international duty with DR Congo. Wissa would ultimately not make his Magpies debut until December with Osula acting as cover for Nick Woltemade for much of his absence.
However, Osula himself would be struck down with injury in November. An ankle injury, one that had been troubling him for much of the season, would rule him out of action just hours before their clash with Athletic Club in the Champions League and the young striker hasn’t been seen in action since.
Eddie Howe has claimed recently that he hopes to have Osula back in contention sooner rather than later, but he is not expected to feature against Leeds United on Wednesday night and is regarded as a major doubt for their clash with Bournemouth in the FA Cup at the weekend.
William Osula transfer reports
Whilst Osula continues to work on his recovery from injury, murmurings of a move to Germany continue to rumble on in the background. Sky Sport Germany reporter, Florian Plettenberg has recently provided an update on Eintracht Frankfurt’s striker search, claiming Osula is still very much a target for the 2022 Europa League winners.
Taking to X, Plettenberg wrote: ‘Eintracht Frankfurt are looking for a third striker and still want to sign William #Osula. Reason is the long-term injuries to Burkardt (likely out until the end of February) and Batshuayi (end of March). Negotiations with Newcastle are ongoing. Verbal agreement between Osula/#SGE is 100 % done. #NUFC 1.) Ebnoutalib ✔ 2.) Kalimuendo – medical Monday 3.) Osula – 🧘♀️ @SkySportDE 🇩🇰’.
Aston Villa also emerged as surprise candidates for Osula’s signature back in the summer, but their efforts to sign him were thwarted by UEFA’s financial rules. Villa had already sold Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle United during the window and a move that would see Osula heading the other way would have counted as a ‘swap deal’ by UEFA and prevented Villa from banking the money they had raised following the sale of Ramsey.
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When Osula returns to fitness, it’s likely that he will once again act as third-choice striker at St James’ Park and see his minutes limited by Wissa and Woltemade. A move, therefore, could be what the former Sheffield United man needs to reignite his career and continue his development.
Newcastle United, though, do have high hopes for Osula and won’t want to lose him permanently unless they are very well compensated and will likely want to insert a buy-back clause into any transfer that can help them bring Osula back to Tyneside in the future if he does realise his potential.