Journalist now says Newcastle United may consider offers for £25m man after stop-start couple of years

Newcastle United fans en masse were questioning Joe Willock's future at the club after another mediocre display for the Magpies at the weekend.

With Joelinton injured, Joe Willock was drafted into the starting eleven by Eddie Howe with cries from fans saying, yet again, how it was a huge game for Willock and how he needs to prove himself.

That's all well and good, but we've said that about him every time he's started a game over the last two years, and we can't really recall a game in which he passed his audition.

Willock is definitely a talented player; his running is exceptional, but like so many Newcastle players, he lacks consistency. Also, now, his injury record is becoming a concern.

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Joe Willock seems like a prime candidate to be sold this summer

After paying Arsenal £25 million for his services, he was expected to kick-on and become a star player after his amazing run of goals when he was here on loan, but it just never really happened for him.

Now, with a squad rebuild on the horizon, it's probably the best time to try and move him on. The Athletic's Chris Waugh shares this sentiment too, giving his opinion of where he belongs in his Q&A this week.

"Willock has only started 10 Premier League matches this season and, when Joelinton, Guimaraes and Tonali are available, the 25-year-old does not threaten the starting XI. His ability to carry possession does offer Newcastle a different dimension, however, and he has proven himself to be a threat off the bench in 2025.

"Even so, with only two years left on his deal, Newcastle may at least consider offers for Willock. At 25, he is still a relatively attractive option for mid-table/lower-half Premier League clubs and, PSR-wise, Newcastle could do with shrewdly trading outwards as well as inwards. With Sean Longstaff’s future also uncertain, Willock is by no means destined to leave, but an exit is a possibility."

Joe Willock could be kept around to keep squad numbers up

As Chris Waugh says, he could become an absolute baller for a mid-table Premier League side. He shone in our starting lineup when we were struggling under Steve Bruce.

Newcastle will likely have to take quite a big hit on that £25 million outlay, but he has been with the club for four years on a permanent basis now, so it's to be expected.

The problem is, there are so many players Newcastle could do with moving on that if we were to ship them all out, we'd have so few players left, so that could be Joe Willock's lifeline, as we still need to keep some squad players with Sean Longstaff likely to be moved on.

Of course it all depends on how many players the Magpies are able to sign this summer.