The clock is ticking toward the Monday night transfer deadline, and the decision-makers at Newcastle United find themselves facing a significant dilemma regarding the future of Will Osula.
While the club has dealt with a fair share of attacking injuries throughout the first half of the season, the 22-year-old striker has struggled to find his way onto the pitch. With only two starts to his name across all competitions this term, his development has hit a bit of a standstill, prompting a surge of interest from several clubs across Europe and the domestic leagues.
It has been a stop-start campaign for the Danish youngster. A persistent ankle injury kept him on the sidelines for nearly two months, which certainly didn’t help his chances of breaking into Eddie Howe’s plans.
Although he has successfully returned to full training and was named on the bench for the recent league loss to Aston Villa and the dramatic Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain, he remained an unused substitute in both matches.
This lack of game time suggests that even when healthy, Osula is currently sitting behind the likes of Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade in the pecking order. If that duo remains fit for the rest of the campaign, the prospects for Osula to see any meaningful minutes on Tyneside appear incredibly slim.
This lack of opportunity has not gone unnoticed by scouts elsewhere. Newcastle’s recruitment office has reportedly been fielding calls from a growing list of suitors. Marseille and Ipswich Town are currently the names at the front of the queue, though they represent very different paths for the young forward.
Most of the inquiries so far have centered on loan deals, but some clubs are reportedly willing to discuss a permanent transfer if the price is right. Newcastle, for their part, have the security of a contract that runs until the summer of 2029, meaning they are under no immediate pressure to sell unless the deal makes perfect sense for the club’s long-term vision.
The interest from Germany is particularly interesting. Eintracht Frankfurt came incredibly close to signing Osula on the final day of the summer transfer window, only for the deal to collapse at the eleventh hour. While officials from the Bundesliga side have reached out to Newcastle again this month, they have yet to put a formal offer back on the table.
Whether they are waiting for the final hours of the window to exert pressure or are looking at other targets remains to be seen, but the history between the two clubs suggests there is a foundation for a deal if the finances align.
Domestically, Ipswich Town are very keen on bringing the striker to Portman Road. Manager Kieran McKenna is looking for that final piece of the puzzle to secure automatic promotion, and a dynamic forward like Osula fits his high-tempo system perfectly.
Ipswich had spent much of the window chasing Joel Piroe from Leeds United, but with that pursuit seemingly hitting a dead end at Elland Road, they have pivoted their focus toward Newcastle. For Osula, a move to the Championship could be the perfect environment to regain his match sharpness and prove he can handle the physical demands of English football week in and week out.
Across the English Channel, Marseille are also making a strong case. Following the departure of Neal Maupay to Sevilla on loan, manager Roberto De Zerbi is desperate for attacking reinforcements. The French club is reportedly proposing a loan deal that includes an option or obligation to buy the player permanently in the summer.
De Zerbi is known for his ability to develop young, raw talents, and Osula is viewed as an ideal “development” signing who could thrive under the Italian’s tactical guidance in Ligue 1.
The challenge for Newcastle lies in the timing. Eddie Howe has already hinted that the club is unlikely to bring in any new signings of their own before the 7 p.m. deadline on Monday. This leaves the Magpies in a risky position.
If they allow Osula to leave, they will be one injury away from a crisis in the attacking department. However, there is a clear understanding within the club that keeping a 22-year-old on the bench for another four months could cause his career to stagnate and his market value to drop.
Ultimately, the next 48 hours will be a test of Newcastle’s squad management. They must weigh the immediate need for backup against the long-term necessity of a player’s growth.
If Marseille or Ipswich can offer a deal that guarantees playing time and protects Newcastle’s financial interests, we may see Osula heading for the exit. If not, he will have to buckle down and wait for his chance to prove he belongs in the black-and-white stripes during what promises to be a grueling end to the season.
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