Report: Arsenal block Joe Willock’s loan exit amid Sunderland interest

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Sunderland reportedly want Arsenal midfielder Joe Willock on loan.

According to Football.London, Arsenal will block Joe Willock from going out on loan this month amid interest from Sunderland.

The Gunners will be looking for new signings this month, but are now having to put the stops on some of their young players moving on.

Willock and Eddie Nketiah are two young players who need playing time, but Arsenal can’t offer them that right now outside of the odd cup match.

Football.London report that Arsenal won’t allow them to go out on loan either though, preferring to keep the duo at the Emirates Stadium rather than farm them out this month.

It’s claimed that Sunderland are keen on landing Willock, but their hopes of signing him appear to be over with Arsenal blocking any loan exit.

Sunderland could have offered Willock the chance to play in a promotion-challenging side in League One, whilst there are believed to be number of Championship clubs also keen.

Willock, 19, has come up through the Arsenal ranks, and scored twice against Blackpool in The FA Cup on Saturday evening, whilst e also scored a Europa League goal against Vorskla in november.

Tipped for a bright future, Willock will now be attempting to prove himself to Unai Emery for the second half of the campaign, rather than Sunderland’s Jack Ross.