The Telegraph reporter Luke Edwards provided an interesting update on transfer deadline day over Newcastle United’s move for Arsenal midfielder Joe Willock, suggesting that “there is a chance he could return” to St James’ Park again next season.
The Magpies confirmed the deadline day move in the closing minutes of the transfer window, with the 21-year-old arriving on a loan deal until the end of the campaign. The midfielder’s arrival meant that Steve Bruce was able to bring in at least one of his two main targets, with a move for Leicester City’s Hamza Choudhury failing to materialise.
Edwards’ update on Twitter came prior to the signing being confirmed by the Magpies, but he claimed that there is a possibility of Newcastle taking Willock from Arsenal again in the summer ahead of next season. That could potentially result in another loan move being negotiated in the summer transfer window, depending on how well he performs at St James’ Park in the coming months.
#nufc increasingly confident they are going to sign Joe Willock on loan and there is a chance he could return next season too https://t.co/xgWyMr3QFN
— Luke Edwards (@LukeEdwardsTele) February 1, 2021
However, a report from the Daily Express has suggested that the absence of an option to buy in the deal means that Mikel Arteta still views the 21-year-old as having a long-term future with the Gunners. It will therefore be interesting to see what happens with the midfielder at the end of his time with the Magpies.
Read Newcastle verdict
Bringing in Willock seems a very wise piece of business from the Magpies, with the 21-year-old offering something different to their current set of options in the middle of the park. He has the ability to operate as more of a box-to-box midfielder and can provide a little more of an attacking threat with late runs into the penalty area (WhoScored).
If Newcastle were able to bring him back next season, that would be another major boost, but it will likely depend on how well the loan move goes during the rest of this campaign. Arsenal might feel that, if he performs well, it would then be beneficial for him to spend another season at St James’ Park and get a full year of regular football under his belt.
However, with the loan move only lasting until the end of this term, the Magpies would need to negotiate another move with Arsenal in the summer. It should certainly be one to keep an eye on over the next few months.
