Arsenal: Joe Willock subject of £25m transfer agreement

Arsenal midfielder Joe Willock’s immediate playing future remains as uncertain as ever. Or does it? The 21-year-old was magnificent while loaned to Steve Bruce and his Newcastle side for the second half of the Premier League season, and now appears to be on his way to the Magpies in a permanent move.

Joe Willock played his own ‘game of two halves’ in the previous campaign. Mikel Arteta barely used him domestically, only playing two matches of significant minutes: 57 minutes against Leeds in a 0-0 draw followed by a 90-minute outing against Wolves.

No goals or assists in the league for the Hale Ender, however; much like Nicolas Pepe for large spells, his best form came in the Europa League. In Arsenal’s six group stage games, Willock often put forth Man of the Match performances with his three goals and three assists making him a certain starter.

While his efforts in Europe would be something to be proud of, it was in the Premier League where he wanted to find more. As much as anything, it was more about getting consistent minutes and full games under his belt, instead of the late substitute appearances that had become a hallmark of his career thus far.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

Arsenal midfielder Joe Willock subject of £25m transfer agreement as Newcastle eye summer move that will help fund Arteta’s squad rebuild

In January Willock sealed his temporary move to Tyneside, where Steve Bruce has been a vocal admirer since. Willock smashing Premier League records in the process will have helped. By scoring in seven consecutive matches, Willock became the youngest player in the competition’s history to do so (21 years and 272 days).

Always having an eye for goal, that was on show in the north east. What would please Arteta, and Bruce, the most is the quality of opposition Willock performed well and scored against: Liverpool, Manchester City, Leicester City, Tottenham, and West Ham all felt his wrath.

Rarely do Arsenal loan players make such an impression. Just in case there was any doubting that the Toon Army felt otherwise, St James’ Park was audibly unified on the final day of the season as chants of ‘we want you to stay’ rang around the terraces. That speaks volumes of his sensational six-month stint.

Now he’s back with a decent loan spell under his belt in which he not only scored goals (8), but also got some serious minutes in the most competitive league in the world – he completed the full 90 minutes seven times out of his 14 games.

With apparent agreements in place, is it now coming to an end?

Continued…

Newcastle Agree £25m Deal to Sign Joe Willock From Arsenal

The question remains, does Willock have a future at the Emirates?

Newcastle have made it abundantly clear they want Willock back. So much so that it’s been reported the Magpies are willing to part with £22m to take Willock back to Tyneside on a permanent deal.

That has been countered (added to?) by 90min, who report that a £25m deal has been agreed by the Magpies to sign the midfielder, with all that is left to confirm the move being convincing Willock that his future lies on Tyneside.

Word was that Newcastle proposed a loan in the first round of negotiations, but with their entire budget being spent on one player, they will instead make up their two loan spots for the season elsewhere. They are committing to the player wholeheartedly.

These offers – which one is accurate remains to be seen but the similarities in fees and growing outlets reporting it hint towards this being the end – from the Magpies will certainly have Arsenal and Arteta in deep thought. That’s their valuation, after all.

Does the club give the green light to let him go or will it be rejected as Arsenal’s midfield options are frightfully slim and Willock is the only player who could potentially fill in at No. 10 and offer, and this is crucial, goals from midfield. They may decide to wait until another goalscoring option in the middle of the pitch, whether a No. 8 or No. 10 can be secured.

Should the Gunners agree then it would provide a richly desired cash injection to then go and pursue its transfer targets. Yet, we do not want another Serge Gnabry situation, do we? Sold for a small fee and then look at the type of player the German winger has become. A reliable starter for Bayern Munich and a genuine star, something the Gunners could do with right now. Risks must be taken, though.

With the ever changing landscape that is football, the rumoured offers from Newcastle might be too vital to refuse. Arsenal need money. That’s the bottom line.

Another Hale End product has seen his value increased after a string of great performances. This is the true success of the academy. Could Willock be on his way to Tyneside permanently? It certainly feels that way.