Arsenal have agreed to a deal ‘in excess of £20million’ with Newcastle to sell Joe Willock, according to reliable reports.
David Ornstein of The Athletic has tonight confirmed the deal, although he noted that the player has yet to agree to personal terms with the club. Willock was completely omitted from the Arsenal squad that lost 1-0 to Tottenham on Sunday.
After the match, Mikel Arteta said he would explain Willock’s absence when it was possible to do so, almost admitting that a deal was close.
It was reported earlier this week that Arsenal had agreed a deal worth £25million for Willock and it seemed inevitable that this one would eventually go through given the fact that Arteta could not offer Joe first-team football.
According to football.london, a sell-on clause has also been inserted into the deal by Arsenal, ensuring they would profit further if Willock is to be sold on in the future.
Arsenal’s inability to find buyers for many of the players they were actively looking to sell this summer has meant they’ve had to soften their stance on Willock, a player they appeared willing to integrate into the squad, but very much as a rotation option rather than a guaranteed starter, as he would be at Newcastle.
Fans will now hope they can use the money to complete a move for a new attacking midfielder. James Maddison has been amongst the names strongly linked.
Arsenal’s window had become a bit stagnant, but they will hope that through the sale of Willock and others, incomings can start to take place also.
The Gunners have a bloated squad and as well as recouping money from this deal, they have crucially created space in the squad for a new midfielder to come in.