Newcastle United ready to make Joe Willock decision after Besiktas agreement - 'I will sign him'
Newcastle United must act quickly as Besiktas prepare to make a move to sign Joe Willock in January.
Newcastle United midfielder Joe Willock is already subject to serious transfer interest from Besiktas months ahead of the January window opening.
The Turkish Super Lig club tried to sign Willock in the summer, but Newcastle blocked the deal. The 27-year-old has since started the season positively and is the club’s joint-top scorer with three goals to his name.
But with less than a year left on his contract, Besiktas are ready to pounce. Besiktas president Serdal Adali has claimed he ‘will’ sign Willock on a pre-contract come the new year and Newcastle could be powerless to stop it, unless they act soon.
We have launched a WhatsApp NUFC channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates directly to your phone. Simply click this link to join our NUFC WhatsApp channel.
FIFA rules could let NUFC star leave for nothing
As things stand, Willock will be into the final six months of his contract come the new year and would be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club. That would see him join on a free transfer come the end of the 2026/27 season.
FIFA regulations state: "A club intending to conclude a contract with a professional must inform the player’s current club in writing before entering into negotiations with him.
"A professional shall only be free to conclude a contract with another club if his contract with his present club has expired or is due to expire within six months.
"Any breach of this provision shall be subject to appropriate sanctions."
We have launched a new NUFC YouTube channel to bring you the latest Newcastle United news and analysis. Click this link and subscribe to NUFC Press Box.
The only way Newcastle could keep hold of Willock in that instance would be if the player were to reject Besiktas’ approach, having previously agreed to join the club in the summer. Alternatively, Newcastle could look to strike a new contract with Willock before he enters the final six months of his current deal.
Given his new lease of life and importance to the side under head coach Matthias Jaissle, it is a possibility.
Besiktas ‘will sign’ Joe Willock - says president
Speaking over the weekend, the Besiktas president Adali told Milliyet: “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, Besiktas director of football] at least ten 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 £20 million. We can sign him in January – in fact, I will sign him. The only player the manager wanted that we missed out on was Joe Willock. We genuinely need someone there.”