Joe Willock has just seven months remaining on his Newcastle United contract.

Joe Willock could be entering the final few months of his six-year career at Newcastle United.

Signed in January 2021 - initially on loan - the 27-year-old joined permanently for £25million after impressing for Steve Bruce. Willock has gone on to play 174 times for the Magpies but is yet to rekindle that early form.

His time on Tyneside has largely been spent as a squad player on the left of a midfield three. However, Matthias Jaissle shifted him to the No.10 role, with Willock scoring three goals in 2025-26 to repay the new-found faith.

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Newcastle rejected an offer worth around £17million for Willock over the summer. Jaissle wanted to keep the former Arsenal man as an experienced midfield option after losing several high-profile players.

In September, Besiktas chairman Serdal Adali bizarrely vowed to sign Willock in the January transfer window. He said: “There were players we couldn’t sign in the summer. Our manager wanted Willock. From day one, it was Willock, Willock.

“Nobody knows this, but I brought Willock’s whole family to Istanbul. They picked out a house, and they had video calls with Italiano and Onder (Ozen, the football director) at least 10 times. Furthermore, we went to see the player in person twice.

“His contract ends at the end of the season. He can sign a pre-contract in the winter. They had asked for £20million. We can sign him in January. In fact, I will sign him.”

Joe Willock contract stand-off

Since then, Newcastle have not managed to tie Willock down beyond the current campaign. United bosses do not want to lose the midfielder for nothing at the end of the season.

A reluctant sale could take place this winter - but only on Newcastle’s terms. Turkish outlet Aksdam reported last week that Besiktas will prepare an £8.5million bid.

Willock is now entering a crunch period amid ongoing uncertainty over his future. For now, his immediate focus will be to perform for Newcastle ahead of a busy autumn and festive period.

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Joe Willock on Newcastle United

After scoring against Millwall earlier this season, Willock insisted that he is happy to stay at Newcastle. He said: “I'm happy to still be here. It's a massive club that's played a big part in my career.

“I'm really happy to still be wearing this badge and my shirt and giving my all for this club. The new manager is giving me a new lease of life and I'm really happy that he's here. I'm happy working under him."

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