Newcastle agree £10m deal for Sheffield United forward William Osula

Move for the Denmark Under-21 international has been led by new sporting director Paul Mitchell

Newcastle United are close to finalising a deal to sign exciting young forward William Osula from Sheffield United.
The Denmark Under-21 international is not the big name supporters have been hoping for this summer but Sheffield United were desperate to hold on to him and Newcastle feel he has vast potential.
A fee of around £10 million has been agreed, with up to £5 million in add-ons, for the 20-year-old who will initially be used as a squad player by manager Eddie Howe. Newcastle need to add more strength in depth and are keen to reduce the squad’s average age too.
Osula has predominantly played as a forward for Sheffield United but can also play through the middle and will offer cover for first-choice centre-forward Alexander Isak.
Sources have told Telegraph Sport that the deal has been driven by Newcastle’s new sporting director, Paul Mitchell, who believes Osula will thrive under Howe’s coaching and will eventually become a first-choice forward in the Premier League.
Whether Newcastle still intend to sign another wide player in this transfer window remains to be seen. Still, it is thought the club hierarchy are looking for value for money in this window and are trying to move players out before they commit to any large expenditure.
Howe has made it clear he wants at least two players to improve the quality of the first team this summer with a right-sided centre-back the other main priority. Progress, though, has been slow.
Although talks between the two clubs have not yet been concluded for Osula, there is an expectation on both sides that a deal will be agreed.
His impending arrival on Tyneside will once again increase talk of England international Callum Wilson leaving the club.
Wilson has missed the vast majority of pre-season training because of a back injury but the 32-year-old is entering the final year of his contract and if Newcastle are going to sell it has to be now.