According to a recent report by Shields Gazette, Dutch international full-back Jetro Willems has expressed his deep desire to return to Newcastle United on a permanent basis next season. The Eintracht Frankfurt man arrived at Tyneside prior to the start of the season on a year-long loan basis. Although the 26-year-old’s contract was said to have an £11m option to buy at the end of the campaign, the current footballing situation around the world has left the player stranded, with no indication from either party about the future.
Speaking to some followers on his Twitter account, the Dutchman said that he’d be willing to return to Tyneside next season if the club still want him back. A fan asked him about the contract situation, and the full-back went on to further express his desire to return. He then said, “Everyone wants or hopes that I come back or sign a permanent deal at NUFC but I think its more a question for the club if they want me back.”
How Did Jetro Willems’ First Season At Newcastle Go?
The 26-year-old former PSV man arrived at St.James’ Park as part of a year-long loan deal, and the speedster had an immediate impact. Full-back has been one of the Magpies’ problem areas for a while now, and in the initial knockings of the season, it looked like Willems would offer them the ideal balance of defence and attack down that side. He started the season looking quite bright, and the Dutchman showed various glimpses of his talent while going forward down the flanks as well.
The Eintracht Frankfurt loanee picked up two goals and two assists over the course of the season, and while that doesn’t look overly motivating on paper, it’s worth considering that he missed more than half the league season out injured.
The 26-year-old played in just 19 league outings this season owing to a knee problem, but that was enough to prove to the Newcastle faithful that Willems has an immense amount of quality to offer in the attacking third of the pitch while taking nothing away from his ability to defend as well.
What Does Willems Add To This Newcastle United Team?
The Dutchman is arguably one of the most attack-minded full-backs in the entire league at the moment. He is often seen charging down the flanks and giving opposition defenders a tough time with his movement and general pace. While the 26-year-old is perfectly adept at reading the ball defensively, his attacking contributions outweigh everything else. An able dribbler, Willems has the technical ability to deliver quality crosses into the box as well.
Should The Magpies Sign Willems Permanently This Summer?
The full-back, in his short time at Tyneside, has already made a name for himself within the Newcastle United faithful. Given the talks of a potential takeover as well, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them complete signing the Dutchman this summer. Willems has displayed his quality on multiple occasions, meaning that there’s no need to question whether he would be a good fit. Signing a pacy full-back for as less as £11m will be the dream of most top English clubs, and if the option-to-buy is still valid, the Magpies will do well to get this deal over the line in the summer.
