Newcastle are reportedly confident of signing Joe Willock and expect an Arsenal from Arsenal within the next 48 hours.
Joe Willock’s future looked like it would take until near the end of the window to be sorted but if the latest reports are to be believed, we will have something of a decision within the next few days.
Newcastle boss, Steve Bruce, recently said that they would be pushing Arsenal for an answer and the Daily Mail now claim that Newcastle expect an answer from Arsenal within the next 48 hours.
“Of course we want him back, he did great with us and gives us another dimension in midfield that we haven’t got,” the Magpies boss said.
“We’ll keep bashing away at it.
“With Arsenal, what are they going to do?’ he added.
“They’ve brought in two midfield players. That’s our starting point, with Joe, because let’s be fair, he had an unbelievable three or four months with us. But there has to be a time where we know – is it going to be yes or no?
“We’re only allowed two domestic loans, and we’re only allowed one from each club. So, there has to come a time when there’s a cut-off, and we have to find out what’s happening. We’re still trying our utmost, whether it’s on loan or to buy him. We’re still trying.
“I think everybody knows how difficult it’s going to be,’ he added. “We haven’t got a lot of money. As managers, you always want players and money to go and improve the team, that’s our job. But I don’t think I’m alone, I’ve never known it so quiet.
“We have to be patient. It’s very difficult, but with not a lot of money swashing around, supporters know it’s going to be very difficult.”
There is a report from France and RMC that claims Joe Willock has been talking with Monaco, however, something tells me this might not be all it seems. Arsenal have shown a different face during this transfer window, one that seems willing to engage in use of the media to move things in their favour.
When they were trying to get Emile Smith Rowe to sign a new deal, with his agent seemingly using Aston Villa to put pressure on Arsenal, stories started appearing in the media linking Arsenal with buying players to wear the number 10 shirt. I noted at the time that it seemed unusual, and it will be interesting to note if shirt numbers play any prominent role in stories going forward. They don’t usually and it certainly seemed like Arsenal playing games with Smith Rowe.
Similarly, Arsenal want to get the best deal for Joe Willock, and with only one club seemingly seriously interested, that’s a lot harder to do. You don’t have to look past Granit Xhaka/Roma and Hector Bellerin/Inter Milan to see current examples of this.
Of course, Willock’s camp could well be talking with Monaco, but they haven’t really been mentioned in connection with him all summer and the timing, as Arsenal and Newcastle seem to be getting closer, strikes me as suspicious.
It was also recently reported that Arsenal could now be looking to sell Willock in order to raise funds.