It’s shaping up to be one of the quietest transfer windows in recent memory for the vast majority of the Premier League, including Newcastle United.
After our lavish summer spending, Eddie Howe has hinted that we will need to be careful and thoughtful with any spending, with it looking increasingly likely that any incomings will have to wait until the summer.
But with it being all quiet on signings, there’s still the potential for some big departures to happen.
That certainly looks to be the case with a new report, but Howe and the recruitment team seem to be sticking to their guns over having sufficient squad depth for the rest of the season…
Fulham bid rejected for Willock
According to Ben Jacobs, Newcastle have today rejected a £20m bid from Fulham for Joe Willock.
Fresh off his goalscoring heroics against PSG midweek in the Champions League, his first half header may have just rekindled a number of clubs’ interest in him.
Crystal Palace and Leeds had both been linked to the former Arsenal man in recent weeks, but this is the first concrete bid for Willock that we’ve seen.
Jacobs claims that despite the player being keen on the move to Marco Silva’s side, we won’t sanction it unless a replacement is secured before Monday’s 7pm deadline.
Howe standing by six midfielders
The gaffer has made it abundantly clear that he wants six midfield options available to him as we continue to fight in four competitions this campaign.
So though Willock is arguably the sixth choice option in the midfield hierarchy, there’s no player currently available to take his place as an option.
With both Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton not 100% fit, and Lewis Miley already deputising at fullback, Willock seems set to stay barring a higher bid coming in or a replacement option being brought in.
Kees Smit is certainly off the table, after the Dutchman affirmed he’s staying at AZ Alkmaar for the rest of the 25/26 season, so it remains to be seen just as to who a Willock replacement could be with such little time left in the window.
Angel Gomes has been offered to us for less than £20m
PremAndUp(Quote)
No brainer sell Willock get Gomes, 6 midfielders Howe happy, Willock gone fans happy 😋
Absolutely glorious(Quote)
Think EH is taking the mick out of PIF and the supporters of newcastle knocking back 20 mill because he scored a goal what about the one,s he missed and we got no points because he missed a sitter EH has got to go in the summer he does not care at all what the supporters think when we end up with now,t come the end of the season we have him to blame we must be mugs for keeping him here
Keith Richardson(Quote)
Keith two questions
1. do you even support us or are you on a wind up
2.2 CL campaigns 2 finals a semi final and a Trophy in 4 years remind me again which other manager in your life time has done this?
i’m not saying Howe is perfect there are many things he does that annoys me but he is perfect for us imo, we are where we are because of him.
We’ve had the discussion on here many times on who would replace him and move us to the next level.
There is no one currently available imo that could do that and hiring someone after a world cup is just inviting another season like this because of the disruption it would cause in the summer (late transfers/training/tactics etc) and we don’t want that.
the chaos of the Isak saga and the effect it has had on us this season was bad enough.
Absolutely glorious(Quote)
Tuccal in after world cup Eddie has taken us as far as he can we can’t have a 4rd poor start to our next season if he can’t get it right every season with an elite manager who knows
David Alexander Roxborough(Quote)
All those fools wanting Eddie Howe out dont grasp that we cant attract an “elite” manager whilst we are hamstring by PSR or any version of letters following. They would want money and plenty of it for players and higher wages. We have the best man to do the job with one hand behind his back. Be very careful what you wish for
Claire(Quote)