Latest football news: Newcastle to part ways with another forward

Newcastle United could still part ways with centre-forward William Osula, whose future at St James’ Park has been cast into doubt following the arrival of new strikers and a botched transfer attempt on deadline day.

The Danish striker, signed for £10m in August 2024, came close to sealing a switch to Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt in the final hours of the window, only for talks between the two clubs to break down.

Frankfurt initially pushed for a permanent deal but later returned with a £21.6m loan-to-buy offer, yet failed to reach an agreement with the Magpies before the deadline passed.

According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Osula’s situation will continue to be monitored, with the 22-year-old potentially leaving in January should his playing time diminish following the summer arrivals.

“Clubs will be monitoring [Osula] to see how many games he’s played between now and January, and then see if there’s any possibility that he could be lured away from St James’ Park,” O’Rourke said on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast.

After a summer of uncertainty surrounding their striker options – a saga that included a fallout with Alexander Isak before his record-breaking move to Liverpool – Newcastle eventually strengthened their attack with fresh signings.

Nick Woltemade arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt in a £69m deal to replace Isak, while a late agreement with Brentford secured the services of Yoane Wissa before the deadline.

Even with no other recognised centre-forward besides Osula in their first two Premier League outings, the Dane was overlooked, only earning his first start in the third match against Leeds United due to Anthony Gordon’s suspension.

Now, with Woltemade and Wissa firmly in the picture, Osula’s opportunities look set to shrink further, despite him making an impression by scoring off the bench in the defeat to Liverpool.

Magpies boss Eddie Howe now faces the task of rebuilding his attack in the wake of Isak’s departure, with the Swede having been pivotal to Newcastle’s resurgence over the past two seasons.

The summer recruits are expected to add depth and versatility across the frontline, but none yet carry Isak’s proven Premier League pedigree, though Howe will be banking on their collective output to compensate for the absence of a single standout goalscorer.

That shift could also prompt a tactical evolution, moving away from reliance on one talismanic striker to a more fluid, interchangeable system, and early signs of this approach emerged in the goalless draw with Leeds, where two forwards were deployed.

For supporters, the hope will be that the new arrivals adapt quickly and start delivering the goals Isak once guaranteed, with European football and a demanding domestic campaign looming.