When you hear Sheffield United supporters talk about Will Osula there is a massive split of opinion. Some supporters believe he has a bright future ahead of him, while others believe he will never make it. And I think personally that’s what makes modern day football so dangerous now: the fact that a young player, at the age of 20, can be written off by thousands of fans. Where has common sense gone?
Osula has been on the list of emerging talents in English football over the last two or three years. The Danish born striker was smashing in the goals left, right and centre in the Professional Development League games for United, which eventually led to him getting some minutes in the 2021/22 Championship season.
Then, after starting the 2022/23 U21’s campaign with three goals in two games, the striker was sent on his first loan move in the EFL. Osula would play 21 times in all competitions for Derby County, netting five goals in the process. Unfortunately, in his final game for the Rams he was shown a straight red card which left a sour taste to his loan spell.
But that didn’t knock his confidence as he returned to Sheffield United where he scored three goals in his next two U21’s games before earning some minutes for the first team once again before the end of the season.
Due to a mixture of poor preparation/transfer policy and injury issues, the Blades were forced to start Osula in the first few Premier League games last term, and while he worked hard chasing down lost causes, he was never able to do anything due to the lack of quality in the Blades XI at that time.
The 20-year-old made a total of nine top-flight starts last season which to me suggests how underprepared the squad was. And I personally think this lack of squad depth and poor transfer business by the board robbed Osula of having a breakout loan spell in the Championship.
What does next season look like for promising Sheffield United striker Will Osula?
One of the co-hosts of Sheff United Way, Oli, recently expressed his views regarding Will Osula’s immediate future at the club.
“He does need development. His physical development has come way before his technical development. He needs to work on his finishing. He needs to work on his composure. He needs to work on his decision making.
“Despite the squad issues [lack of current attacking depth], I still think a loan is best for Will Osula. I think we need to get him somewhere to build that confidence, to give him a real opportunity to shine without the bright lights of a Championship play-off caliber team.
“He needs somwhere where it is stress free and he can just play his football and develop whilst being a first choice striker in a team that’s going to create chances.”
My view
A loan move is 100% needed for Osula. I believe the club robbed Osula of a solid developmental campaign last season due to the lack of strategy in the summer transfer window. As a result, he was forced into starting Premier League games early on, into a side that was no where near ready.
He needs to go somewhere to develop a lot of situational things and his composure because to me you can see a clear difference in him from youth level to senior level. He snatches more at his chances at senior level – it’s almost like he is too eager to impressive but that eagerness throws off his balance and accuracy completely.