According to James McNicholas – The Athletic’s Arsenal insider – Gunners chiefs WILL listen to offers for Joe Willock this summer.
He reveals that the North London club will sit down with the midfielder once he returns from his summer holiday to discuss his future at the club, with him currently in Mykonos with Arsenal teammates Reiss Nelson.
McNicholas also insists that, despite Newcastle’s interest in the player, there has been no formal bids for Willock as of yet – however he reveals that “suitable offers” will be considered as they look to raise funds for potential summer signings.
Although it’s frustrating to see us take our time – in typical Newcastle United fashion under Mike Ashley – when it comes to submitting a bid, it’s encouraging to hear they are open to letting him go on a permanent transfer.
After all, our hopes of bringing him back to Tyneside seemed bleak at best just last month, with Mikel Arteta stating that he was “sure” he’d remain at Arsenal next season after ‘grabbing his opportunity’ at Newcastle:
“He’s got a contract and that’s going to be here. That’s for sure.
“He has grabbed that opportunity in a really positive and remarkable way and he will come back to us.”
“I am really happy that things have gone so well because of the potential that he has.
“We will have those conversations with him and plan the next years for him.”
“He got the responsibility and the test of going to Newcastle to help them get where they want to.
“I spoke with the coaching staff there and they are extremely happy because he was a key part of contributing to get the objectives that they had.
“That’s a real positive for him.”
It looks like Arteta may have been playing transfer mind games after all in a bid to drive the best price and create a potential bidding war, although it seems no offers have arrived as of yet and Arsenal are anything but “sure” he’ll be staying at The Emirates this summer.
The question is, have we got the funds and ambition required to put together an offer they’ll deem acceptable for the 21-year-old talent who bagged eight goals in his 14 games at the club?
Let’s hope we have both, because it feels like our summer could hinge on our ability to get our loan star signed up to a long-term deal at St James’ Park!
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