The Joe Willock Besiktas transfer is gathering pace, with the Turkish club reportedly tabling a €20m (£17m) offer for the Newcastle United midfielder and now waiting on an answer from St James’ Park.
Italian journalist Nicolo Schira has claimed that Besiktas have put the fee on the table and that Willock has agreed a four-year contract with the Super Lig club. Newcastle have yet to accept.
Joe Willock Besiktas transfer: how the bid battle has developed
Newcastle United knocked back an initial £10m approach from Besiktas back in July. The Magpies have been holding out for around £17m throughout weeks of negotiations, and the latest reported offer from the Istanbul side lands right at that figure.
There is extra incentive for Newcastle to push for the highest possible fee. ChronicleLive understands that Arsenal are entitled to 10 per cent of any sale, so every pound knocked off the fee costs the Magpies directly. With Besiktas now reportedly matching the asking price, the arithmetic works more cleanly for a deal to go through before the window shuts.
Willock has 19 goals to his name for Newcastle and is 27 years old. Whether that record and his age make him worth holding onto, or whether the fee now on offer makes this the moment to cash in, is the decision sitting with the club.
Jaissle still assessing the squad as deadline approaches
Head coach Matthias Jaissle has been measured on the subject of who stays and who goes. Speaking last week, he said he was still evaluating his options and did not want to rush judgements after limited sessions with the group.
‘It would be unfair to judge them now after one session, so they can show up, like I just said, and we have still time,’ Jaissle said. ‘Not everyone will be happy, it’s normal in football, one or the other wants to leave as well, but again, we have time. First, let me come here and do the job, let’s work all together and then we’ll make the decisions.’
Jaissle has had a couple of viewings of Willock in pre-season. That is a thin sample to judge on, but time is running short. The transfer window closes for clubs at 11pm on 1 September.
Willock himself has played in every Newcastle pre-season fixture this summer, featuring against Gateshead, Bristol City, Valencia and Everton. He is expected to play some part in Sunday’s match against Liverpool, which kicks off at 4:30pm. Hardly the preparation of a player who has mentally checked out.
He was equally clear at the end of last season when his future was being questioned. In an interview on the club’s TV channel, he referenced his plans to stay at Newcastle four times. ‘People are going to the World Cup, and some people are having a break,’ he said. ‘From there, have a break but full focus on coming back next season and coming back in the best possible way and look to next season.’ That was then. A reported €20m offer and a four-year deal waiting in Istanbul changes the picture.
How Newcastle respond before 1 September will shape the Willock situation one way or the other. Besiktas are said to be waiting for the answer now.