Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe admits that the Magpies came eerily close to selling William Osula in September.

Back then, Eintracht Frankfurt approached Newcastle for a loan deal with an option, with Osula open to the move to the Bundesliga. But once it became apparent that the German side had the option to get out of a potential permanent deal, the plug was pulled.

The original deal would have seen Newcastle get £4.3m for a loan deal but after an obligation for a sale worth £30m was inserted, Toon owners PIF opted out of the sale.

Osula - who is in contention to start against Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup at St James' Park - is now hopeful of getting a run in the team. And Howe said that possibility was getting closer for the Danish Under-21 star who set up the winner against the Cottagers.

Howe, speaking at his pre-match Press conference ahead of the cup clash with Spurs, said: "I think it was quite close and he could have left.

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