The considerable size of the likely fee for Joe Willock this summer means the expectation is that he’ll leave Arsenal, according to a report.

The Telegraph report that Joe Willock will be worth £20m or more this summer, and Newcastle United have made it clear they want to sign him on a permanent deal. The size of the potential fee has led to an expectation he’ll leave.

On the other hand, The Telegraph highlight Arsenal’s shortage of central midfield players and the fact his recent upturn in form will have been noted at the Emirates Stadium. As a result, the club could hold off on any decisions until later in the window.

Steve Bruce has already confirmed publicly that he would like Willock to join permanently. The on-loan midfielder has scored five goals in 11 games (eight starts) since joining Newcastle United on loan, so that’s not exactly surprising.

Willock has scored equalisers against Spurs and Liverpool, a winner against West Ham, and the opening goals in wins against Southampton and Leicester City. It’s fair to say he’s played a major role in keeping Newcastle up.

But again, that’s only going to make Arsenal doubt a decision to sell. The good news is that it should lead to a good fee if they do, but with Dani Ceballos and Martin Odegaard returning to Real Madrid, there are gaps to fill on the pitch as well as in the budget.