£21m Newcastle United star linked with Premier League transfer - ‘replacement’ has already been scouted
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Newcastle United latest news: Joe Willock has been linked with a possible move to Crystal Palace during the January transfer window.
Newcastle United midfielder Joe Willock has been linked with a move to Crystal Palace during the January transfer window.
Willock has not been a regular this season under Eddie Howe, although he did start away at Marseille on Tuesday night. That was just the former Arsenal man’s eighth appearance in all competitions this season and just his third start after being named in Eddie Howe’s team for their clash against Bournemouth in September and victory over Spurs in the Carabao Cup last month.
According to the Telegraph, Willock is admired by Crystal Palace and has been listed as a possible option for the Eagles when the January transfer window opens. Selhurst Park had emerged as a potential destination for Willock during the most recent summer window, but he instead remained on Tyneside as Sean Longstaff was sold to Leeds United.
The arrival of Jacob Ramsey seemed to threaten Willock’s place in Howe’s plans, although he did start over the former Aston Villa man in France and was picked ahead of him to come off the bench during their win over Manchester City at the weekend. According to reports, Willock’s position in the pecking order on Tyneside has ‘offered encouragement’ to Palace ahead of the winter window.
The 2026 January transfer window will open on New Year’s Day and close at 7pm on Monday 2 February.
Newcastle United have already scouted Joe Willock’s potential ‘replacement’
If Willock is allowed to leave Tyneside, then that could open the door for Newcastle United to make a move for AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit. Smit, a 19-year-old Dutch midfielder, has reportedly attracted attention from a whole host of top European clubs, with Newcastle United among those linked with a move for him.
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AZ Alkmaar reportedly value the teenager at £20m and will not be short of suitors for the midfielder with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich among the clubs linked with a move for him in January. Smit has been a regular at club level this season and may be someone that could be called up to the Netherlands’ senior squad.
Certainly, Smit has impressed the Dutch national team manager Ronald Koeman, who recently spoke of comparisons between the 19-year-old and Barcelona’s superstar midfielder Pedri.
“He has the awareness to receive in tight spaces and move the ball forward. That is something we value,” Koeman said about Smit.
“The resemblance people see [to Pedri] is in how he positions himself and his decision-making under pressure. But every player must form his own identity.
“Big clubs follow players with these characteristics. That is normal. What is important is that he continues developing where he is, playing regularly.”
Smit may be someone the Magpies turn to if Willock is allowed to leave the club, however, it seems likely that the only way Newcastle United will sanction a deal for the man they paid £21m to sign back in 2021, will be if they can source a replacement. Newcastle United’s last major January signing came back in 2023 when they completed a deal to sign Anthony Gordon from Everton.