Arsenal set for huge £22m Joe Willock transfer to Newcastle

Arsenal Have to Sell Joe Willock for £22m

Everything comes with a caveat. In this instance, Arsenal should absolutely keep hold of Willock if he isn’t replaced in the window. That really goes without saying.

On the proviso that the £22m is spent on someone who can arrive in quick time and lift the quality of the squad in that department, it is a no-brainer. For £22m, Willock has to be sold.

That’s the valuation Arsenal have set for the midfielder and therefore if met it’s going to be a simple transaction, and from a theoretical point of view that will mark one of the few success stories in the club’s recruitment over the past few years.

It would have been unfathomable to gain that kind of money for Willock back in December. Criticism of him was over the top – even if he hadn’t managed to find consistent form – and with two years left on his contract the thought of that amount of money being spent on him would have been laughed off.

Now, in August, his value has never been higher, and almost certainly won’t be raised in the next 12 months; Newcastle are not a direct rival and there isn’t a bidding war ongoing to jump the price up. It’s a great deal. The kind Arsenal have failed to pounce on in the past.

It’s always tough seeing a Hale End, an Arsenal, lad leave, but he will not be earning regular minutes in north London and the systematic shuffle needed to get the best out of him will limit other players in the squad.

This is a deal that suits all parties: Willock is a local lad making a big move in his career, but it was clear he loved his time up at St James’ Park, meanwhile Arsenal earn vital monetary gain and Newcastle acquire a very talented young player.

Progress as he did in his previous spell there and this won’t be his last move. Willock can achieve more in the game.

What Arsenal have done, to their credit, is set a value and stick to it. There was talk of a nonsense loan being sanctioned, which would have been totally farcical, and now they’ve set a precedent to other sides trying to sign their players on bargain deals that their best assets have worth that needs meeting.

If this move goes ahead, where does it leave Arsenal? Well, it leaves them in need of midfielders. Hopefully this transfer can springboard that.