‘There’s been talk’ - Newcastle United target left out of pre-season friendly as £75m speculation ramps up

Chris Wilder has claimed William Osula missed Sheffield United’s 1-1 draw with Huddersfield Town due to concussion.

Newcastle United are reportedly pursuing deals for the 20-year-old as well as Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi. If they pull both swoops off, Toon chiefs will have spent around £75million on the pair.

News about Osula broke in midweek, with Newcastle keen to add a young backup striker to cover Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson. The Blades forward, who can also play out wide, is valued at £10million - including possible £5million add-ons.

Speaking post-match, Wilder admitted he would not stand in a player’s way should a Premier League possibility arrive. There was no suggestion that Osula was left out due to Newcastle’s interest.

“There's been talk,” Wilder said. “Will's been out because of his concussion, so he would have been here had he not have had that concussion and he'd have been in Scotland (in pre-season). But he had to go through the protocol.

“There’s been talk and a lot of noise and we have to wait and see on that one. We've talked about it before, we are a club in a position that has to be careful that we don't stifle opportunities for young players to go to Premier League clubs and, if there is interest, whether a year left like, we make sure we get the best possible price.

“It's quite difficult to hold onto players now when Premier League clubs come knocking, I had it at Middlesbrough when Bournemouth came knocking for Marcus Tavernier and unfortunately that attraction of the Premier League and the club is too difficult to turn down.”