It’s shaping up to be one of the quietest transfer windows in recent memory for the vast majority of the Premier League, including Newcastle United.
After our lavish summer spending, Eddie Howe has hinted that we will need to be careful and thoughtful with any spending, with it looking increasingly likely that any incomings will have to wait until the summer.
But with it being all quiet on signings, there’s still the potential for some big departures to happen.
That certainly looks to be the case with a new report, but Howe and the recruitment team seem to be sticking to their guns over having sufficient squad depth for the rest of the season…
According to Ben Jacobs, Newcastle have today rejected a £20m bid from Fulham for Joe Willock.
Fresh off his goalscoring heroics against PSG midweek in the Champions League, his first half header may have just rekindled a number of clubs’ interest in him.
Crystal Palace and Leeds had both been linked to the former Arsenal man in recent weeks, but this is the first concrete bid for Willock that we’ve seen.
Jacobs claims that despite the player being keen on the move to Marco Silva’s side, we won’t sanction it unless a replacement is secured before Monday’s 7pm deadline.
The gaffer has made it abundantly clear that he wants six midfield options available to him as we continue to fight in four competitions this campaign.
So though Willock is arguably the sixth choice option in the midfield hierarchy, there’s no player currently available to take his place as an option.
With both Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton not 100% fit, and Lewis Miley already deputising at fullback, Willock seems set to stay barring a higher bid coming in or a replacement option being brought in.
Kees Smit is certainly off the table, after the Dutchman affirmed he’s staying at AZ Alkmaar for the rest of the 25/26 season, so it remains to be seen just as to who a Willock replacement could be with such little time left in the window.
