NEWCASTLE UNITED have agreed a deal with Sheffield United for William Osula, and are hoping to complete the signing of the Danish forward in the next few days.

The Magpies will pay an initial fee of around £10m for Osula, a 20-year-old forward who can play as a central striker or a wide attacker, with a further £5m potentially due in add-on clauses.

Talks over personal terms will take place over the next 24 hours, with Osula set to travel to Tyneside to complete a medical and finalise his move to Tyneside either over the weekend or at the start of next week.

His transfer should be completed by the time Eddie Howe and Newcastle’s first-team players return to training at Darsley Park next week following their pre-season trip to Japan. The Magpies play the second game of their Japanese visit when they take on Yokohama F Marinos tomorrow.

Osula has been signed to initially become Newcastle’s third-choice forward next season, joining Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson in the attacking ranks. While Wilson, who has entered the final year of his current contract on Tyneside, has been linked with a possible departure this summer, the 32-year-old now looks likely to remain within Newcastle’s first-team squad for at least the first half of next season.

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Osula will attempt to force his way into the first-team frame, with Newcastle’s recruitment team having been impressed with the rate of his development at Sheffield United in the last 12 months.

Having returned to Bramall Lane last summer following a loan spell at Derby County, Osula made 21 Premier League appearances without scoring last season – nine of which saw him starting – but did find the net in FA Cup matches against Gillingham and Brighton.

He scored in Sheffield United’s friendly win over York City last month, with Blades boss Chris Wilder having been impressed with his performance, which saw him catch the eye in a wide-attacking role.

“When we changed the team around, I thought Will Osula was outstanding off the left,” said Wilder. “He possibly could have had a hat-trick, but it was a great finish from him for the goal.”