As we prepare to enter February and perhaps the most brutal run of fixtures, squad depth has never been more important to Eddie Howe.

The return of Dan Burn in particular couldn’t have come at a better time for the gaffer, as it’ll finally ease the heavy burden placed on Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw in the heart of our defence.

But where Burn has immediately slotted back into the team, the same can’t be said for the freshly-returning Will Osula, who again finds himself as third choice striker behind Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa.

And as rumours continue to swirl surrounding the young Dane’s seemingly-inevitable exit, a fresh club looks to have entered the race for Osula’s signature, and it’s a team we’re all too familiar with this season…

European rivals enter Osula race

According to The Mail’s Craig Hope, Marseille are the latest club showing interest in Newcastle striker Will Osula.

Osula has been subject to interest from the likes of Aston Villa, Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt, and has even agreed personal terms with the latter of a move to the Bundesliga, as Sky Germany claim.

Bought for £15m from Sheffield United two summers ago, a figure in the region of £30m had previously been discussed, though a loan with an obligation to buy has also been floated.

Should Marseille want to make a move, it’ll have to be quick, with Hope noting that a permanent deal would only be achieved by Monday if a “substantial offer” came in.

Does Osula have a future at Newcastle United?

Even though a sale would give us a hefty bit of profit and boost our PSR headroom, there’s plenty of reasons that Osula should be kept on Tyneside for at least another season.

A popular figure amongst his teammates, his development has come on leaps and bounds since signing in 2024: Graeme Jones having worked personally with the player and singing his praises.

And Jones isn’t the only influential figure who’s backing Osula to succeed. It was said that the PIF themselves intervened and vetoed the planned deadline day move to Germany back in August.

Then there’s the Yoane Wissa factor: the Congolese striker turns 30-years-old later this year, and having Osula on the books will at least afford us a solid rotation option between the ageing striker and Nick Woltemade, particularly for league and domestic cup games in the future.