Newcastle United have no intention of selling William Osula this summer, despite reported interest from Aston Villa in the young striker.
Football Insider reports that Villa are among the clubs monitoring Osula closely, but Newcastle are determined to retain him after seeing encouraging progress under Eddie Howe.
The situation marks a notable shift in thinking around the 22-year-old, who not long ago seemed likely to need a move away to secure regular first-team football.
Osula joined Newcastle from Sheffield United in 2024 and has a contract running until 2029, giving the club considerable leverage in any potential transfer discussions.
That contract length means Newcastle face no pressure to accept offers quickly, even if Aston Villa make a formal approach for the striker during the summer window.
Osula recently scored twice in Newcastle’s 3-1 victory over West Ham, a performance that demonstrated his finishing ability and growing confidence in front of goal.
His post-goal celebration also attracted attention, with Roy Keane joking about his Michael Jackson-style dance after the match at St James’ Park.
Villa’s reported interest is understandable given their need to plan for the future of their attacking department, with Osula offering pace, physicality and Premier League experience.
Newcastle’s position, however, is that selling him at this stage of his development would be premature, particularly given the signs of improvement he has recently shown.
The club views Osula as a player still developing into his potential, making the prospect of losing him now a risk they are unwilling to take.
At 22 years old with five years remaining on his contract, Newcastle hold all the cards and appear ready to use that security to keep him at the club.
Aston Villa will likely continue monitoring his progress, but Newcastle’s strong contractual position and renewed belief in Osula make a summer sale highly unlikely at this stage.
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