Newcastle United may have to make Joe Willock one of their best paid players to secure his permanent transfer from Arsenal this summer, according to Chronicle Live.
The midfielder’s camp are pushing the Magpies to pay Willock in the same bracket as Allan Saint-Maximin and Jonjo Shelvey. The French talisman and English engine room operator are noted to be making around £90,000-per-week each at St James’ Park.
Willock’s representatives informed Newcastle of their stance during talks on Monday after agreeing a fee with Arsenal. The Toon and Gunners settled on a £25m package for the U21 international, after he shone during a half-season loan spell on Tyneside last term.
Newcastle boss Steve Bruce wants a deal for Willock to go through in time for him to face West Ham. The Magpies lift the curtain on the new Premier League campaign at home to the Irons on Sunday. Arsenal, meanwhile, visit newly-promoted Brentford on Friday.
Reports by The Athletic note Newcastle will pay Arsenal an initial £20m for Willock’s return. The 21-year-old scored eight goals over 14 Premier League appearances in black-and-white after opening his account on debut against Southampton.
He then netted in seven successive outings to help Bruce guide Newcastle to top-flight safety. Willock even came off the bench to score the winner over West Ham at St James’ in April. Having equalised as a substitute at home to Tottenham Hotspur two weeks before.
Bruce will want Willock to help Newcastle extend their four-game unbeaten streak over West Ham. The Irons have not won at St James’ Park since December 2018, either.
Newcastle must make big Willock commitment for Arsenal transfer
Newcastle must make a big commitment to Willock to secure his return from Arsenal this summer, it seems, then. The midfielder only earns £20,000-per-week at the Emirates Stadium, but his agent is pushing for around four-times that.
Given Bruce is working with a limited budget, making the cash boost from Southampton’s Adam Armstrong transfer very welcome, Newcastle may be reluctant to match Willock’s request. Bruce, however, knows how much the Arsenal product can offer the Magpies.
“The one thing you want to do is play well on your debut,” Bruce said, via The Shields Gazette after facing Southampton. “It was a great piece of skill from Allan to get to the byline and pick him out. It was a classic midfield player’s goal. That’s what he’s brought us. He goes box to box, he’s a terrific athlete.”
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