Are Aston Villa Targeting Newcastle's William Osula?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Aston Villa is pursuing Newcastle United striker William Osula.
- The club aims to strengthen its attack for the second half of the season.
- Villa sits third in the Premier League, aiming for European competition.
- Recent signing Alysson adds depth, but Villa seeks further reinforcements.
- Osula's potential signing could be a game-changer for the club.
London, Jan 1 (NationPress) Aston Villa has initiated efforts to acquire William Osula, the Newcastle United striker, marking their first significant move in the January transfer window. Manager Unai Emery aims to enhance the team's attacking capabilities as they head into the latter part of the English football season, according to reports released on Thursday.
Currently, Aston Villa is enjoying a remarkable season, sitting in third place on the Premier League table, trailing Arsenal (45 points) and Manchester City (40) by a slim margin of just one point. They hold a six-point lead over the fourth-placed defending champions, Liverpool (33).
Considering the team's favorable position for qualifying for European competitions next season, the club's management has opted to bolster the squad, providing Emery with additional options as the season progresses.
William Osula tops their list of targets, and Villa is preparing a substantial offer to secure his services, as reported by MailOnline.
At present, Ollie Watkins serves as Villa's primary striker, while Donyell Malen has also been deployed in the striker role at times this season. However, Malen has mainly been utilized as a wide player during his tenure at Villa Park, indicating that Emery might seek a more traditional striker to challenge Watkins, according to another report.
As per MailOnline, Aston Villa is in search of a flexible forward during this January transfer window. They have shown interest in Osula, who has seen his standing decline at St James' Park, with Eddie Howe preferring to use Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade.
Recently, Villa confirmed the acquisition of young winger Alysson from Gremio for approximately £10 million. This skilled young player represents an attacking addition, although his role in the senior squad remains uncertain given his young age of just 19.
The report further indicates that Alysson is expected to be a long-term investment, rather than an immediate asset. Therefore, it wouldn’t be surprising if Villa continues to seek further attacking reinforcements.
Previously, Aston Villa had nearly secured a deal for Osula from Newcastle during the summer transfer window, but the transfer ultimately fell through. The Danish forward has struggled to make a significant impact since the arrivals of Woltemade and Wissa.
Now, Villa is set to make a renewed effort to acquire their desired player.