Newcastle United midfielder Joe Willock has reached an agreement on personal terms with Turkish Super Lig club Besiktas over a late summer move.
According to an update from Turkish outlet A Spor, Joe Willock is the subject of interest from Besiktas. The Black Eagles are eager to bolster their first-team squad by signing a versatile midfielder in the final days of the ongoing transfer window, and they have their sights set on the 27-year-old Newcastle United midfielder.
However, the A Spor report has revealed while personal terms are no longer an issue, Newcastle United’s asking price is “too high” for Besiktas. The Turkish Super Lig giants have offered €10-12 million to sign the Englishman, but that is not enough for a summer deal.
Joe Willock has endured a topsy-turvy ride since joining Newcastle United from Arsenal. The Tyneside outfit initially signed the 27-year-old on loan in February 2021 before completing a permanent move in a deal worth £20 million in the subsequent summer transfer window. While the player was excellent in the second half of the 2020/21 campaign, he has struggled to make his mark since sealing a permanent move to Newcastle United.
Willock’s game time has steadily decreased with each passing season, and he managed only 1,650 minutes across 39 outings in all competitions, chipping in with just one goal and three assists. However, the English midfielder’s stock remains high, with several well-known clubs, including Besiktas, vying for his signature.
Besiktas’s interest in Joe Willock is understandable. The Black Eagles are scouring the market for a versatile attacker as their spending spree continues. They have a significant gap to bridge to the title contenders, with Galatasaray and Fenerbahce finishing at least a dozen points ahead of them.
Recent reports have linked Besiktas with several top-class footballers, including Gabriel Jesus. Willock has also been a viable target as he looks to resurrect his fortunes, and the agreement on personal terms signals his desire to embark on a new adventure.
However, the report by A Spor suggests Besiktas will not submit an improved bid to Newcastle United, which means a summer deal is unlikely to materialise. With Willock starting and scoring in the Premier League opener against Liverpool, a turnaround in fortunes may be on the cards.
