Rafa Benitez has had a brilliant start to their Championship season so far with Newcastle United going on an outstanding winning streak before it was broken by Blackburn Rovers. They now sit in the 2nd position of the Championship table, two points behind Brighton & Hove Albion, who also have a game in hand.
However, the Magpies have entered the new year quite disastrously. With both their star central midfielders, Mo Diame and Jonjo Shelvey, absent from the squad, Benitez have the very little option as a backup for Isaac Hayden and Colback. While Diame is not returning at least before February from his African Cup of Nations duties, Shelvey is returning on 17th January after getting suspended for disciplinary issues.
And as per Sky Sports, Newcastle United are lining up a bid for Ben Osborn of Nottingham Forest. The 22-year-old has been a vital part of the Forest team this season and Rafa Benitez looks at him a potential player to take on Magpies’ midfield at such time of crisis.
Although 22, Osborn is quite a regular in the forest first team and already has garnered an impressive 27 appearances for the Championship club. Hence, Benitez is looking at someone who could directly get into the first team. He is apparently preparing a £4 million bid for the Derby-born star.
Finances haven’t been a problem for Newcastle as they have already spent £57 million in the summer to build one of the best squads in the Championship, and they are expected to have yet another busy transfer window. Other players like England international Tom Cleverley and Robbie Brady as well as extending loan deals for highly-rated youngsters Adam Armstrong and Macauley Gillesphey have been doing the rounds.
A Nottingham Forest youth product, Osborn debuted at the age of 19 in a 1-1 Championship draw against Ipswich Town at Portman Road. Since then, he has garnered a lot of attention from critics and fans alike and is currently in his fourth season of professional football.
Osborn has now made over 100 appearances for the Reds and is an England U20 international. Coincidently, Osborn’s 100th league appearance for Forest was in December’s 2-1 victory over Newcastle at the City Ground. He has scored one goal this season, creating 57 chances and five assists. He has completed 703 passes this season with a pass accuracy of 79%, of which 59% were forward passes.
Nottingham Forest skipper, Henri Lansbury, has also been a hot prospect this winter and both their top players departing could really be a huge trouble for Forest.
