Newcastle United fans have delivered their response on social media after striker William Osula was surprisingly linked with a move away from the club.
This has been a strange summer for Newcastle United on the striker front. They are yet to replace Callum Wilson despite moving for many forwards this summer, while star turn Alexander Isak does not want to be involved amid interest from Liverpool.
Anthony Gordon played up front for Newcastle against Aston Villa on the opening day of the Premier League season and looks almost certain to do so again when the Reds come to St James’ Park on Monday.
That is a blow to Osula. He’s the only recognised striker in the Newcastle United squad with anything approaching top level experience, with youngster Sean Neave even further behind the Dane in his development.
Still, Bayer Leverkusen are interested in Osula, so his future is far from certain. Letting him go at this stage would seem strange, so here’s how sections of the Newcastle United support reacted.
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Newcastle United fans on William Osula
Supporters took to social media platform X after news of the interest from Erik ten Hag’s Leverkusen emerged.
Some of them want to keep the former Sheffield United youngster, which is an understandable position to take given Newcastle’s lack of forwards.
Others, however, are ready to let him leave.
One fan wrote: “He needs games to develop. Would help going on loan.”
“Osula desperately needs a loan move and a full season playing, would be the making of him I reckon,” added another.
Another supporter said: “Striker or not, I wouldn’t lose too much sleep over selling Osula. If we can get our money back that’s great business. He’s 22 now. Not sure he’ll ever be capable of playing regularly in a PL team.”
The striker did not start a Premier League game last season and was handed only a minute of action against Villa on the opening weekend of this campaign, so does not appear to be in Eddie Howe’s thinking at this stage.
Eddie Howe speaks on William Osula
Newcastle staff rate Osula highly but he has yet to fully convince.
Clearly, that is difficult to do when handed such little game time, but Newcastle cannot really afford to throw him into the starting lineup right now.
Howe has delivered his verdict on Osula, claiming he is “happy” with the player’s “career progression” but it remains to be seen if he has a future at St James’ Park.
“I think he’s doing really well and he’s progressing really well, but he’s got limited experience in the Premier League, although I’m really happy with his career progression,” he said.
If they let him leave while struggling to sign a striker, it’ll be a major indication as to how he is viewed.
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