UMVA has learned that Newcastle United are preparing to shut down any attempts to sign young striker William Osula this summer, despite growing interest from Aston Villa and other clubs.
The 22-year-old forward has caught the eye of several teams, including Villa, but Newcastle are not planning to let him go after seeing signs of real progress under Eddie Howe's management.
Osula's situation is particularly intriguing given that, not too long ago, he looked like a player who might need a move away from St James' Park to get regular football, but the mood around him seems to have changed dramatically.
Newcastle appear much more determined to keep him, especially after his recent performances suggested there is a proper player developing at the club, with his pace, power, and Premier League experience making him an attractive prospect.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Osula joined Newcastle from Sheffield United in 2024 and is under contract until 2029, which gives the Magpies a very strong position in any transfer talks, allowing them to dictate the terms of any potential deal.
Aston Villa's interest in Osula is not difficult to understand, as they are clearly thinking about the future of their attack, especially with their current star player not getting any younger and the club looking to secure a talented young forward for the long term.
Osula would be a smart long-term gamble for Villa, with the raw tools to become a very useful forward, but from Newcastle's side, selling him now would feel a little premature, as he has not yet fully exploded at the club, but there have been flashes of brilliance.
The attacker has been in fine form recently, scoring twice in Newcastle's 3-1 win over West Ham, a performance that showed his finishing ability and confidence in the final third, making him a player that Newcastle are right to try to keep.
If Newcastle sell him now, they could end up watching him develop somewhere else and regret it badly, as he is not the finished product yet, but has the potential to become a top player, and the Magpies are making the right call by trying to keep Osula.
