Numerous reports emerged late last week revealing Newcastle’s confidence that progress was being made over a loan move for Joe Willock. Some reports inferred that a deal could be struck as early as this week.
Arsenal are due to jet off to Orlando soon for Sunday’s Florida Cup against Inter Milan. At the moment, all indications are Willock will be with the squad.
The midfielder made a cameo in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw at Rangers on Saturday after being held back midweek with a groin problem. It remains likely that manager Mikel Arteta will use this pre-season to make a decision on his future rather than sanction an early loan back to Newcastle.
Steve Bruce was asked about his top target after yesterday’s friendly at York City. It appears that an agreement for Willock is not going to happen until later this summer if at all.
This is what Bruce said as published in The Chronicle:
“As I’ve said, it’s really Arsenal’s decision, and until Arsenal make a decision – a bit like all the big clubs, they have a look over pre-season – we’ll keep monitoring and badgering away.
“We’d love to do something but it’s still Arsenal’s call.”
Newcastle have been in contact but Arsenal have yet to make a call on Willock. Arteta confirmed over the weekend that he expects some new faces in this week. They are likely Anderlecht’s Sambi Lokonga and Brighton’s Ben White.
Whether any new signings at the Emirates impacts Willock’s situation is uncertain. Lokonga is a 21-year-old who would provide further competition in the midfield.
As for Newcastle, there are no new faces and, other than Willock, no apparent progress on any signings. However, we have confirmation from Bruce that Andy Carroll won’t return and has been released.
The only imminent transfer business is Florian Lejeune heading back to Alaves for an undisclosed fee. Newcastle have four left-footed center-backs to offloading the Frenchman was always going to be likely with him having just one year left on his contract.
19 comments so far
Adamn_92
Jul 19, 2021 at 10:30 AM
Comment #1Shall we have a prediction game of how many times Bruce uses the phrase ‘big clubs’ this season? I’m going for 120 or thereabouts.
Aces-of-Eights
Jul 19, 2021 at 10:32 AM
Comment #2Is Bruce the new Pulis with the cap on
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jul 19, 2021 at 10:32 AM
Comment #3@Adam
He will probably use 10 of them on the first game against West Ham!!
toon22
Jul 19, 2021 at 10:34 AM
Comment #4Every clubs a big club to him
He’s an utter muppet
DubaiMicky
Jul 19, 2021 at 10:34 AM
Comment #5“all the big clubs”, in other words we aren’t. Boils my pi55.
toon22
Jul 19, 2021 at 10:34 AM
Comment #6We would be better off if he just shut his pie hole and stayed at home
toon22
Jul 19, 2021 at 10:36 AM
Comment #7Just another few weeks
2 more
Honest
lochinvar
Jul 19, 2021 at 10:40 AM
Comment #8If the cap doesn’t fit?
A straight hand there of like minded comments
Maybe a Pork Pie hat would be more apt
lochinvar
Jul 19, 2021 at 10:41 AM
Comment #9“Red Bull gives you whinge”
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jul 19, 2021 at 10:53 AM
Comment #10Last season we were unbelievably lucky that Fulham were so terrible the amount of chances they had to overtake us and ended up getting beat was unreal!
How will our luck hold up this season? A lot of teams will be improved this season I wouldn’t imagine us beating Everton twice in a season for example!
Rotonda heights
Jul 19, 2021 at 11:00 AM
Comment #11So it’s gone from willock and his family are on Tyneside to ”we are monitoring the situation” . The way charnley monitors things I won’t hold my breath.
Adamn_92
Jul 19, 2021 at 11:01 AM
Comment #12LCBP
In my opinion if we don’t get this takeover we’re all hoping for, we will potentially get Willock if we’re lucky and that’ll be the only main bit of business. Maybe a lackluster loan or two and that’ll probably be it. We’ll plod along getting the odd win here and there, it’ll largely be reliant on ASM and Wilson (Willock too if he joins) and we’ll be floating around the middle to bottom of the table. Injuries will hamper the squad again and we’ll have a period where ASM and Wilson are both injured and we’ll go on a losing streak. Bruce will blame everyone but himself stating hard luck with injuries and covid meant and takeover talk meant we struggled to bring any cover in at the start of the season. He’ll get annoyed with fans giving him grief during games and then rub it in their faces when he gets a lucky win against any of the other 19 big clubs.
Or before I get called doom and gloom, we could end up doing really well and sign some surprisingly good players, staying in the top half of the league all season with attractive attacking football. Bruce will also solve the covid pandemic and receive a nobel peace prize 🙂
Mund
Jul 19, 2021 at 11:09 AM
Comment #13Duff duff…
Mund
Jul 19, 2021 at 11:10 AM
Comment #14The season hasn’t even started yet but still you have some crying about it…
Mund
Jul 19, 2021 at 11:11 AM
Comment #15Newcastle United was one of the worst hit during the COVID pandemic
kimbo
Jul 19, 2021 at 11:15 AM
Comment #16New midfield and a striker required urgently. Both Longstaffs let go for any money,Hendrick free to anyone stupid enough to have him.
Gayle sold to an Championship club and last of all Steve Watson as new manager as he can get a non league team to easily beat us.
Adamn_92
Jul 19, 2021 at 11:18 AM
Comment #17Sorry Mund i’ll change my outlook for the upcoming season to fit with how you think we should all be and think.
I reckon Bruce is going to win manager of the season, we’ll hit a record number of goals scored and each Saturday everyone will stand on their doorsteps to give a minute applause in recognition of Bruce’s fine work. We’ll win the league comfortably and the league will be so impressed that they’ll let the takeover go through. PIF will realise how fantastic Bruce is and offer him a 100 year contract as well as an anti-aging serum so we have 100 years of fantastic Bruce ball. Our medical team now with great financing will develop an injection that cures injuries instantly and we’ll never have to worry again. We’ll go on to have a 100 year back to back trophy run and every Newcastle fan will be given £1m for being so positive before the 21/22 season.
Mund
Jul 19, 2021 at 11:20 AM
Comment #18Any need for the big winded replies?
You need to stop thinking it’s all about you as I named nobody
geordietom
Jul 21, 2021 at 6:21 PM
Comment #19😆 😀