Former Newcastle defender Sebastian Bassong has backed William Osula as one of the club’s sharper attacking options, even as the debate around Newcastle’s forward line grows louder after a major summer spend. Speaking to Read Newcastle via freebets.com, Bassong said Osula is "super quick with his feet" and "super skilful," while adding that he would rather face Nick Woltemade than the other forwards.
Bassong’s view lands at a time when Newcastle are still trying to make sense of a reshaped attack built on the £125 million sale of Alexander Isak to Liverpool last summer. The club also let Callum Wilson leave as a free agent and used much of the money to bring in Yoane Wissa for £55 million and Woltemade for £69 million, while Osula remains the lower-cost option from the summer of 2024, when he arrived for £15 million. That makes his recent goals for Newcastle more than a side note. It has put him back into the conversation.
The ex-defender was clear that the three strikers offer different problems. He said Woltemade is strong in the air but can also use the ball well at his feet, which makes him awkward to defend against when he is on song. Bassong described Wissa as "super quick" and pointed to the forward’s strong season at Brentford last year, when he scored 19 Premier League goals. But he also noted that Wissa has managed only one league goal in 17 outings for Newcastle this season, a return that has not matched the club’s hopes when it spent so heavily to bring him in.
Woltemade, meanwhile, had a fast start to life at Newcastle before his scoring form cooled. He has recently lost his goalscoring boots and has often been used out of position in midfield, a reminder that a big transfer fee does not always buy instant certainty. Bassong’s preference for Woltemade over Osula was not a criticism of the younger striker so much as a nod to the different threats each man presents. Osula’s pace and close control, he said, mean defenders cannot get too tight to him.
That broader uncertainty is part of Newcastle’s current picture. The club has spent heavily across the squad in the past year, also signing Malick Thiaw from AC Milan for £35 million last summer. Bassong called Thiaw an assured defender and a smart piece of business, adding that he has done really well and has a bright future for the club. He said injuries in the defensive line have made Thiaw a big positive, helping Newcastle at a time when the team is trying to finish the season well and secure a European place for next season.
For Newcastle, the next step is no longer just about who costs the most. It is about which striker can deliver now, which one can settle into the system, and which one can keep the attack moving while the season closes. Bassong thinks there is room for improvement next year. Osula’s recent run has at least given the club one simple comfort: the cheapest forward in the group is the one making the clearest case for more minutes.
