Newcastle United aren’t short of options in midfield with Isaac Hayden, Sean Longstaff, Jonjoe Shelvey, Jeff Hendrick and Matty Longstaff, but the uncertain futures of the Longstaff brothers has Steve Bruce wanting another addition to the engine room.
Sky Sports say the Magpies have agreed a deal with Arsenal for Joe Willock who shone on loan last season. The 21-year-old scored eight goals in 14 games and made a real impression in front of the Newcastle faithful. Now he could join permanently and is a signing supporters are excited about on social media.
Willock has made a total of 78 appearances in all competition for Arsenal since making his first-team debut in 2017/18, but his future was up in the air as he fell down the pecking order under Mikel Arteta – Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey, Lucas Torreira, Mohamed Elneny.
New-boy Sambi Lokanga could be preferred ahead of Willock too, so the writing is on the wall. The 21-year-old has opted for more playing time at one club rather than stay at his boyhood club. Fans will hope he can replicate last season’s form when he becomes a permanent Newcastle player.
In other news, Newcastle beat Southend in pre-season friendly on this day in 1976
