Eddie Howe sends mixed messages over Will Osula's failed summer move to Eintracht Frankfurt
Will Osula is currently Newcastle United's top scorer this season with three goals in all competitions, but the Danish forward almost left the club on deadline day in the summer.
Craig Hope delivered the full story as part of his Newcastle Confidential column on Thursday, after it had been believed Newcastle pulled the plug on a loan move to the Bundesliga when Frankfurt wouldn't add an obligation to buy to the deal.
However, it turns out there was more to it than that, according to Hope.
Originally, Frankfurt wanted to buy Osula, and a £35m deal was on the table before the German side changed track to a loan move. The PIF pulled the plug on the deal when they felt that the terms benefited Frankfurt more than Newcastle.
Newcastle were lucky that Will Osula's move to Frankfurt fell through
Everything worked out for the best, given that just a few days later, Yoane Wissa would pick up an injury that would keep him out of action for several matches, handing a golden opportunity to Osula, which he has taken with both hands.
Now, Eddie Howe has acknowledged the failed move in a confusing statement during his Friday morning press conference.
"The situation with Will, we felt and he felt, he needed to play regularly. After last year's development behind the scenes.
"There was a need for him to play. That move did not happen, very much to our benefit and to Will's benefit.
"He is doing well, and I was really pleased with him on Wednesday."
Did Eddie Howe want Osula to go or not?
Howe's statement there suggests that either he felt it was best Osula left for the sake of his development, or that he had plans to use him more regularly this season, in which case, why was a move even being contemplated?
Clearly, Howe is happy that Osula has stayed, and so are we, given that our stance for years has been that we can't go into a season with just two strikers.
Osula still has a way to go before he's going to be considered a genuine contender for the starting XI, but he's getting closer with every game he plays.
