Speculation continues to surround the future of Newcastle United striker Will Osula.
Eintracht Frankfurt still reportedly want to sign Newcastle United’s Will Osula, despite signing two strikers in January already.
Frankfurt have signed Younes Ebnoutalib from Bundesliga 2 side SV Elversberg and are understood to be closing in on a loan move for Nottingham Forest’s Arnaud Kalimuendo, however, they remain at the table for Osula.
Osula was on the verge of leaving the Magpies on deadline day last summer following approaches from Premier League rivals Aston Villa and Frankfurt.
Villa were effectively blocked from completing a deal due to UEFA financial rules as the two clubs had already done business earlier in the summer when Jacob Ramsey moved to Tyneside for an initial £39million.
Will Osula to Eintracht Frankfurt collapsed on summer deadline day
That handed Frankfurt a free run at Osula and despite initially reaching an agreement, a deal collapsed after the German top-flight club asked to change the conditions of the deal to a season-long loan with an option to buy.
And that proved to be a blessing in disguise for Eddie Howe’s side after £55million summer signing Yoane Wissa later suffered a knee injury on international duty with DR Congo.
In Wissa’s absence, Osula battled an ankle problem to support £69m club-record signing Nick Woltemade up front, however has since succumbed to that injury.
He was named in the matchday squad for the 2-0 win over Athletic Club in the Champions League, only to withdraw 45 minutes before kick-off. That was two months ago and he hasn’t been involved since.
Will Osula has already agreed personal terms with Eintracht Frankfurt – Sky Sport Germany
It is hoped Osula will return before the end of January but it’s likely he will find game time hard to come by should Wissa and Woltemade stay fit and available.
In a search for regular football, Sky Sport Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg claims Osula has agreed personal terms with Frankfurt, who still want to sign the 22-year-old despite already bolstering their attack this month.
Plettenberg wrote on X: “EXCL | 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.”
Newcastle United will allow Will Osula to leave – on one condition
But as suggested by Howe, Newcastle will only allow Osula to depart if there is a view to him returning to St James’ Park in the future.
Speaking on Friday, Howe said: “No, there’s no expectation of me thinking Will will leave. I think the only way that we would consider that would be for his development and growth, in terms of benefiting his career to play but always with a view to him coming back to us.
“He’s injured at the moment. I think the main priority for Will is just to focus on getting fit. I don’t think he’s close, but I think he’s improving so hopefully we’ll see him towards the end of the month.
“It’ll be big for us to get him back fit and it’ll be big for him because I know he’s been hugely frustrated by this injury when he had a lot of opportunities to play and prior to his injury I thought he was in a really good place and doing well, so as with every player we make a decision when we need to.”