Newcastle United stick £20m price tag on midfielder wanted by duo of Premier League clubs
Newcastle United may well be looking to trim the fat from their current first-team squad this month to make way for new additions.
While the Magpies' squad isn't exactly bursting at the seams with quality options, there are still players in the squad who are probably below the level we find ourselves playing at these days.
One of those is Joe Willock, whose drop off in form over the last few years has been very noticeable.
The former Arsenal man has had a horrendous time of it with injuries that certainly haven't helped matters, but the dynamic midfielder hasn't looked anywhere near the levels he showed while at St James' Park on loan before his £25 million switch since that deal went through.
Crystal Palace and Leeds United are interested in Joe Willock
Crystal Palace and Leeds United are both thought to be keen on the 26-year-old, although after getting a close-up view of his glaring miss at the end of the game against Palace on Sunday, we wouldn't be surprised if the Eagles have changed their mind.
Leeds could get a close-up look at the roaming midfielder tonight if he makes it onto the pitch when the two teams clash at St James' Park.
Willock, of course, was the subject of some absolutely abhorrent racist abuse after his miss against Crystal Palace on Sunday, which isn't the first time he's received such abuse during his time here with a similar incident happening in February last year.
Newcastle have slapped a £20 million price tag on Joe Willock
With that in mind, Willock would probably welcome a move away from the club now, and who could blame him if this is how 'fans' treat him.
Obviously, those two idiots are the tiniest of minorities and don't speak for the rest of the fanbase, but it only takes one rotten prawn to ruin a soup.
Should Crystal Palace or Leeds be serious about taking Willock, they will have to cough up around £20 million, according to the Daily Mail, and that's what could potentially put them off. Although after Sunday's abuse, we imagine Willock could get them to lower that just to get him out of here.
