If a recent report from iNews is believed to be true, Leeds United are keeping close tabs on Joe Willock ahead of a potential January move. But the Whites are not alone in the hunt, with Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest also keen on securing his services if the Magpies sanction his transfer.
The 26-year-old former England youth international progressed through the academy ranks of Arsenal and went on to make 78 senior appearances for his boyhood club. However, he became surplus to requirements under Mikel Arteta, who let him join Newcastle United for the second half of the 2020-21 season.
Willock made an immediate impact at Tyneside with 8 goals in 14 Premier League appearances. The club splashed £25m to make his loan move permanent in the summer of 2021, and the Englishman eventually earned a key status under Eddie Howe, who has restored their lost pride upon the Saudi-led takeover.
Why Newcastle United Must Not Stand In His Way
However, Willock’s gametime has lately reduced following the emergence of Lewis Miley in the middle of the park. They already have Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali as the preferred ‘midfield trio’ in Howe’s 4-3-3 set-up, and the summer arrival of Jacob Ramsey has pushed him further down the pecking order. The majority of his 16 outings have been as a second-half substitute so far this term, and the gaffer, therefore, would allow a winter exit for the right offer.
Despite a difficult run early into the campaign, Daniel Farke has turned things around since switching to a ‘back three’. Leeds United are unbeaten in their last six fixtures, and their impressive run places them seven points clear of relegation midway through the season.
How Leeds United Would Benefit From Willock’s Arrival
Having said that, the board should back the German boss to maintain their top-flight status. They roped in Sean Longstaff and Anton Stach in the summer to bolster the midfield, yet the market opportunities must be explored, given the grind and demands of Premier League football. Skipper Ethan Ampadu is driving the show from the deep, and the likes of Ilia Gruev and Ao Tanaka have been rotated alongside Stach following Longstaff’s injury.
While the current crop of midfielders has shown resilience and composure in the centre of the pitch, the addition of Willock would offer the much-needed creative spark as an advanced playmaker. Primarily a ‘number 8’, the Newcastle star has shown his adaptability both as a ‘number 10’ and right-sided midfielder, and his presence would allow Farke to make adjustments during the game by shifting from his 3-5-2 to a 3-4-3 or 3-4-1-2 formation.
As Preferred Source
