Osula came close to leaving Tyneside during the transfer window, with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt pushing hard for a 30 million pounds move. The Denmark Under-21 international had even been released from international duty to finalise the transfer. However, the German club's last-minute attempt to turn the deal into a loan scuppered the move-something Howe now sees as a blessing in disguise.
"It was quite close that he could have left," Howe admitted. "We wanted Will to continue his development, ideally by playing regularly, so a loan seemed the best route. But when the deal fell through and Yoane Wissa got injured, it turned out to be the best outcome for us. Will has become vitally important."
Wissa's knee injury, sustained while on international duty, has ruled out Newcastle's 55 million pounds summer signing indefinitely, opening the door for Osula to play a greater role than initially expected.
Osula, who joined Newcastle from Sheffield United in August 2024 for 10 million pounds, has largely featured as an impact substitute this season. His pace, power, and intelligent movement were on full display during Newcastle's recent 2–1 victory over Fulham, when he set up Bruno Guimaraes' dramatic 90th-minute winner.
"He's got speed, he's athletic," said Howe. "But what's impressed me most is how he's developed mentally. He's learning to manage games better, making smarter decisions. He's really benefited from his attitude to training and now looks like the complete package when he comes onto the pitch.
"Right now, he's giving us excellent cameos," Howe said. "We'd love him to sustain that intensity for longer periods - it's tough, but he's got the physical tools and mentality to do it."
