Newcastle United’s summer transfer window nearly ended with William Osula leaving for the Bundesliga, but his move to Eintracht Frankfurt collapsed at the last moment.
“It was Newcastle’s Saudi owners who
pulled the plug on William Osula’s deadline-day move to Frankfurt,” Daily Mail’s Craig Hope reported on Thursday.
A permanent £30 million deal was all but agreed, with Osula preparing to leave Denmark’s national team camp to complete the transfer. Newcastle had even inserted a buy-back clause.
A revised deal by Frankfurt appeared set to go ahead until Newcastle’s majority owners intervened.
“Frankfurt changed the make-up of the deal late on and instead negotiated a loan with an option to buy,” Hope reported. “Despite the loan fee being in excess of £6m, it is thought PIF believed the new terms favoured the German club more than Newcastle.”
According to the Insider, PIF ultimately instructed the club to cancel the move.
Inside the club, however, there is now relief over the ultimate decision. Even before Yoane Wissa’s injury ruled him out until after the October international break, staff believed Osula could have an important role this season as one of the first backups off the pine. That view has only strengthened since.
The 22-year-old striker has started every Premier League game and is Newcastle’s top scorer with three goals in all competitions. That tally includes his double in the 4-1 Carabao Cup win over Bradford City.
Eddie Howe now faces a tough call ahead of the match against Arsenal on Sunday, as he must decide whether to stick with Osula or turn to £69 million record signing Nick Woltemade. Either way, the Dane is expected to feature in some capacity.
With Newcastle having failed to score in three of their five league matches, the decision to keep Osula looks increasingly significant and we’re happy about it!
