'No expectation': Eddie Howe shuts down £20m transfer rumour but admits an exit is still possible
Newcastle United are expected to be active in the January transfer window with incoming and outgoing.
Two Newcastle stars have been heavily linked with an exit this month, with Joe Willock having been connected with a move to either Crystal Palace or Leeds United.
Although it's Will Osula whose exit has seemed all the more likely with Sky Sports Germany's Florian Plettenberg having reported that a five-year contract has already been agreed between the young Dane and Eintracht Frankfurt, with a £20 million fee mooted.
Osula almost joined Frankfurt on deadline day in the summer, but PIF pulled the plug when the German side tried to change the deal at the 11th hour.
Eddie Howe is keen to keep hold of Will Osula
Eddie Howe addressed the Osula rumours in his press conference on Friday morning said the only way he'll leave is on loan.
"There's no expectation from me that Will leave. The only way we would consider that would be for his development and growth but always with a view to come back to us. He is injured at the moment so our priority is to get him back fit.
"We are hopeful he will back towards the end of the month. He has been frustrated because he was in a good place prior to his injury. As always there will be a decision taken on each player when the time comes."
Please don't leave us with just two recognised strikers again
We appreciate this from Howe, as losing a striker and trying to operate with just two forwards has never worked for us in the past. So unless we were to replace Osula, it wouldn't make any sense to let him leave.
Reading between the lines, however, it's clear that the decision is ultimately out of Howe's hands. Ross Wilson has a job to do, and if he feels that selling Osula is in the best interest of the club, he's likely to authorise that move.
That last line from Howe also leaves the door open. So while his words say one thing, there's clearly some subtext there. Only time will tell, but we really hope we're not left with just two centre-forward options for the rest of the season. I'll say it once more for the cheap seats - ANTHONY GORDON IS NOT A CENTRE FORWARD.
