Arsenal can’t sniff at Joe Willock sale to Newcastle £20m

Arsenal Will Struggle to Turn Down £20m Joe Willock Bid

How much is a player worth in the current pandemic-affected market? How long is a piece of string?

Whether or not Willock has enough quality to play for Arsenal moving forward, £20m as a fee is undervaluing him. Not in terms of his ability, though, and simply down to age, profile and contract length.

With two years left to run in the summer, more than just Newcastle will try their hand at a goalscoring No. 8 who not only fits the homegrown quota but has mass resale value. However, given the state of club finances and the market itself, the fee is tough to nail down.

It’s broken record territory but Liverpool are regularly heralded for earning mass sums for their young talent, even if 95% of the fees accrued are leaps above what they’re truly worth. Is £20m enough for Willock? Arsenal could certainly plump higher, something that may occur if other clubs enter the fray.

Even if that fee would stick at what it is, Arsenal will struggle to turn it down with an ‘unprecedented’ summer on the horizon. Talk of investment from the owners needs taking with a fistful of salt, and the outcome of the Europa League campaign will also have a huge bearing on activity.

If Arsenal are faced with no European football next season, sell Mohamed Elneny and don’t bring Dani Ceballos in permanently, then there is definitely a spot for Willock in the squad. There will only be Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey left.

Who they can bring in, how many they can bring in and at what price will all factor in to the summer transfer window. If Willock is up for sale at £20m then one would like to imagine there is a transfer strategy in place for that area of the park, even if faith in the higher ups has taken a knockout blow.

In the case of Arsenal adding quality in midfield and having the right numbers come the start of next season, then Willock should be allowed to leave. £20m, however, is money Newcastle would snap at. If they’d bite at that price, other clubs will go higher.