Newcastle United are looking towards their future by signing Will Osula.
The Magpies have brought in the 21-year-old to provide cover for Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson, with Newcastle United finally adding some depth in attack.
That additional cover will ease the pressure on Wilson to stay fit, but the main reason Newcastle have signed Osula is because of his potential.
Eddie Howe believes he can improve Osula, and he has already shown that he has the tools to develop into a very good player at St James’ Park. Osula impressed Newcastle fans on his debut against Brest, and will hope to make his first competitive appearance on Sunday against Bournemouth.
The Will Osula project is very much underway on Tyneside, and there is now a chance that another project player could arrive.
Newcastle eye ‘project player’ Santiago Hezze
It was reported on Thursday that Newcastle United are interested in signing Santiago Hezze from Olympiacos.
The Greek media claimed that the Argentinian midfielder could cost the Magpies more than £17million, after he impressed during his first season in Europe.
Now iNews have also reported that Newcastle want to sign Hezze, stating that he will cost around £18million.
They also state that Newcastle are looking for ‘project players’, similar to what Osula is for the Magpies.
Newcastle have to build for the future
By spending £15million on Osula, Newcastle United are investing in their future. The hope will be that he is eventually good enough to replace Callum Wilson and seriously challenge Alexander Isak for a place in the starting XI.
It is a significant investment given Osula’s limited experience, but it is not a huge amount of money that the deal will come under major scrutiny if he fails to achieve his potential.
It should prove to be a good bit of business by Paul Mitchell, and that could also be the case if Hezze arrives on Tyneside.
He is a defensive midfielder, which there is a shortage of at St James’ Park. Bruno Guimaraes is the only senior Newcastle United player who can comfortably operate in front of the defence as a ‘number six’, with the Magpies’ other midfielders better used as ‘eights’.
The Toon captain could do with an understudy in case of emergency, and that is exactly what Hezze would be. At around £18million, it would be a similar price to the Osula deal, with the hope being that he would be another wise investment in the club’s future.
It would give Howe more depth in the middle of the park, while it would also mean that Newcastle have a contingency plan if the worst were to happen and Bruno decides to leave the club at some point in the future.
Given the limits of PSR, Newcastle need to be clever in the transfer market. Away from marquee names, they need players who have the potential to develop into first-team players, without costing major money.
That is what Newcastle have done with Osula, and they could now repeat that trick if they complete a deal for Hezze.
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