Newcastle United have reportedly moved to put a deal in place to sign Sheffield United youngster Will Osula.
The Magpies commenced the summer transfer window with numerous incomings and outcomings to ensure that they complied with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules.
However, since that initial business, Eddie Howe has been left frustrated in the market, not adding a single attacking player to his squad despite the departures of Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh for a combined total of £68m.
Callum Wilson's future remains up in the air, while speculation will persist regarding Anthony Gordon as long as he has just two years left on his contract.
Established names are said to be on Newcastle's shortlist should either of those names leave St James' Park, yet it appears that they are pressing forward with the acquisition of an unproven prospect instead.
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Osula closing on Newcastle transfer
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the North-East outfit are close to finalising negotiations to sign Osula from Sheffield United.
Newcastle are allegedly committed to paying a guaranteed £10m fee with a further £5m potentially arriving in add-ons at a later date.
The 20-year-old experienced his first season of Premier League football last season, albeit failing to score in 784 minutes across 21 appearances.
All three of his goals in a Sheffield United shirt came in the FA Cup, scoring twice in a 4-0 victory at Gillingham and what proved to be a consolation strike in a 5-2 reverse against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Incredibly, three further goals were netted in the same competition when on loan at Derby County in 2022-23, although they came across two fixtures against non-league side Torquay United.
In League One, Osula chipped in with just two goals in 16 outings, both in the same game away at Accrington Stanley.
On the international stage, eight appearances have been made for Denmark Under-21s, scoring a total of four times.
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Who is getting the better deal?
On the face of it, Sheffield United will be delighted to receive a vast sum of money for a player who counts as a homegrown talent. Sheffield United are already starting the season with a -2 points deficit and this deal will drastically improve matters off the pitch.
Osula had the potential to emerge as a key player in the Championship, yet Chris Wilder will ensure that he is not short of attacking options as the Yorkshire outfit bid to earn an immediate return to the Premier League.
From Newcastle's perspective, they will feel that they have invested money raised from the Minteh transfer in a smart way, Osula having the attributes to provide versatility in the final third and enhance his reputation across a number of seasons.
Darren Plant
