Newcastle United are quietly preparing for an important decision in the coming weeks, and it centres around the future of young striker Will Osula. With Yoane Wissa finally close to making his long-awaited return from injury, the club are considering whether it is the right moment to accept offers for Osula, who has been filling the gap during Newcastle’s difficult spell without several key forwards.
His situation has attracted fresh interest from Germany, where Eintracht Frankfurt are once again plotting a move after failing to complete a deal in the final days of the summer transfer window.
The Bundesliga side have kept Osula on their radar, even after Newcastle pulled the plug late in August. Inside the club, his future has been tied almost entirely to Wissa’s condition. As explained on the Inside Track podcast, Newcastle will not make a final decision until they see how ready Wissa is to contribute once he returns.
If Wissa comes back strong and immediately offers what Eddie Howe needs, Osula’s role will shrink considerably, which could make a January departure more likely.
Right now, Nick Woltemade remains the first-choice striker, and his rise has been one of Newcastle’s brightest stories of the season. Osula has been a useful backup option in Wissa’s absence and has featured more than many expected.
But Howe has been clear that his squad must remain balanced, and the return of another senior forward would naturally push Osula further down the order.
That is why everything depends on Wissa. The club do not want to weaken their squad, especially in a season where they are fighting on several fronts and battling constant squad depth issues.
Newcastle officials have long believed that Wissa, signed from Brentford, would have a major role once fit. His recovery has been treated as a greater priority than signing another striker.
The club want him available, sharp, and ready to take pressure off Woltemade, who has carried most of the responsibility so far. Reports earlier in the season made it clear that Wissa was the key factor in determining Osula’s future, and that remains true now.
Osula has made 14 appearances this season, stepping up whenever Howe needed bodies in attack. His attitude, work rate, and willingness to compete have kept him in the manager’s plans.
But growing interest from Europe means Newcastle may soon face a realistic offer that is too good to ignore. Clubs in Germany believe Osula could thrive in the Bundesliga, and Frankfurt in particular remain convinced he is a strong long-term project.
They know that competition for minutes at Newcastle will become even tougher once Wissa returns, and they want to take advantage of that window.
On the podcast, it was explained that Newcastle will listen to offers but will not accept anything unless they feel secure with their attacking depth. Howe does not want to send Osula out the door, only to be left short again if injuries strike.
With the Premier League, Champions League, Carabao Cup, and FA Cup all still active for the Magpies, the manager is refusing to gamble with squad numbers. Newcastle have learned the hard way this season that losing too many attacking players at once can derail their momentum.
Meanwhile, Wissa’s recovery is progressing, though it has been a long and frustrating journey. He arrived at Newcastle with high expectations but picked up a serious injury on international duty before he could make his debut.
Despite not yet featuring for the club, he still expects to join DR Congo for AFCON if his final recovery steps go smoothly. That could leave Howe without him between late December and mid-January, depending on how far DR Congo progress, and it adds another complicated layer to Osula’s situation.
The departures of Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson in the summer forced Newcastle to rebuild their attack quickly, and only Woltemade has remained fit throughout the campaign.
That reality is the main reason the club is hesitant to let Osula go too soon. If Wissa returns but immediately travels to AFCON, Newcastle will be right back where they started, short of forwards and unable to rotate properly during the busiest and toughest stretch of the season.
Still, the expectation inside the club is that Wissa will return soon and finally give Howe another reliable option. If that happens, Osula’s pathway becomes much narrower, and Newcastle may feel it is the right moment to cash in while interest is high. But if Wissa suffers another setback, everything changes again, and Osula may remain essential to the squad.
For now, Newcastle are watching the situation closely. They will not rush. They understand the value of depth, but they also recognise the opportunity to streamline the squad and allow Osula a chance to play more regularly elsewhere. When Wissa steps back onto the pitch, the club will finally be able to make the decision they have been delaying all season.
