Reports coming out of Germany claim that Will Osula is already thinking about leaving Newcastle United, just 14 games into his Premier League journey.
The young striker, who has shown clear signs of development this season, is still recovering from an ankle injury, but that has not stopped the speculation surrounding his future. Interest from Eintracht Frankfurt has never really gone away, and the noise is growing again as the January transfer window approaches.
Osula came very close to leaving Newcastle on deadline day in the summer. In what became a chaotic few final hours of the window, the 22-year-old was on the brink of a £30 million move to Frankfurt.
Everything appeared set until the German club pulled back at the last moment, shifting their focus to a loan deal instead. That change in approach killed the transfer instantly, with Newcastle refusing to allow him to leave unless it was a permanent move.
At the same time, Newcastle were busy finalising the signing of Yoane Wissa from Brentford, a deal that went right down to the wire. By the time the window closed, Osula remained a Newcastle player.
Despite the disappointment of missing out on a move, Osula looked focused and determined once the season started. His performances before his injury showed clear improvement, especially in the way he influences games when coming off the bench.
His goal against Liverpool in August did nothing to change the result, but it showed that he has the ability to trouble top defences.
One of his most impressive moments came against Fulham last month when he came on and completely changed the rhythm of the match within four minutes, helping Newcastle turn the game around. He also delivered a standout performance in the cup against Bradford City, scoring twice and proving he can dominate games at a lower tempo.
But since then, the ankle injury has halted his progress. He has barely featured, and uncertainty around his long-term place in the squad has started to grow.
German outlet Bild now claims that Osula is open to leaving Newcastle in January so he can secure regular first-team football. They report that Frankfurt still want him and believe he would be open to the move.
With Wissa expected to return from injury soon, the pathway to consistent minutes for Osula becomes even narrower. Newcastle turned down a loan move last time, but if Frankfurt return with a permanent offer close to the £30 million previously discussed, it may be a different conversation.
Eddie Howe has already addressed Osula’s situation, admitting that in some ways Newcastle were fortunate not to lose him during the summer.
The timing of Wissa’s injury created a sudden shortage in the striker position, and Osula became more important than expected. Howe has spoken warmly about the striker’s attributes, praising his pace, athleticism, and the intelligence he has added to his game.
The Newcastle manager has made it clear that the club believes in the Dane’s potential and sees steady improvement behind the scenes. He highlighted the positive attitude Osula brings to training and the way he has matured in understanding match situations, saying he is starting to look like a more complete player.
Even with that praise, the reality remains that minutes will be hard to come by once everyone is fit. Nick Woltemade is firmly established as Howe’s first-choice striker, and Wissa’s return naturally puts Osula further back in the queue.
The question now is whether the young forward is willing to wait, fight for his place, and continue developing at Newcastle, or if the promise of regular football in Germany becomes too strong to ignore.
For now, the speculation will continue while Osula works his way back from injury. His talent is clear, his desire to improve is evident, and his potential remains high.
What is not yet known is whether his future will unfold at Newcastle or whether he will take the next step elsewhere much sooner than anyone expected.
