Matthias Jaissle laughing as first Newcastle United transfer exit of 2027 looms
Newcastle United are at risk of losing Joe Willock for nothing in 2027.
Joe Willock’s Newcastle United future remains unresolved despite head coach Matthias Jaissle insisting he is unconcerned by continued interest from Besiktas.
The midfielder is into the final year of his contract at St James’ Park and, as things stand, will be free to discuss a pre-contract agreement with overseas clubs from January.
Willock, 27, has already scored three times this season and remains an important member of Jaissle’s squad, but no agreement has yet been reached over an extension.
That has left the door open for Besiktas, who failed with an attempt to sign Willock during the summer and have made no secret of their intention to return for him.
A pre-contract agreement would allow Willock to leave Newcastle for nothing when his current deal expires at the end of the campaign.
Besiktas make Joe Willock intentions clear
Besiktas president Serdal Adali has been unusually open about the Turkish club’s pursuit of the Newcastle midfielder.
Speaking during the international break, Adali revealed the lengths Besiktas went to in an attempt to convince Willock to move to Istanbul during the summer.
“There were players we couldn’t sign in the summer. Our manager wanted Willock. From day one, it was Willock, Willock,” Adali said.
“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.”
Adali later doubled down on that stance and confirmed Besiktas intend to reopen discussions with Newcastle.
“I remain insistent on Willock,” he added. “I will go and speak with Newcastle again during the mid-season window. If it works out, he is the target.”
NUFC’s stance on Joe Willock
Newcastle can remove any uncertainty by agreeing fresh terms with Willock before the January window opens.
However, with just over two months until overseas clubs are able to formally negotiate with him, no new deal has yet been announced.
Jaissle, though, is showing little concern.
Asked about Adali’s latest comments, the Newcastle head coach laughed before telling the Gazette: “I hear that every day!
“I think he's talking about it also every day. In general, it's our player. We're really happy with him, and I think you see that also on the pitch.
“He's a top, top player. He can deliver an unbelievable performance, and I see even more potential with him, so we are happy that he's here.”
Pressed on whether he would like Willock’s future resolved, Jaissle made his stance clear.
“Yeah, you can definitely imagine that, how highly I'm talking about him,” he said.
“So there's not a worry from our side.”
Willock is not the only Newcastle player approaching the end of his contract.
Jacob Murphy, who was also the subject of transfer interest during the summer, is understood to be closing in on a new agreement after Newcastle rejected a £15million bid from Nottingham Forest late in the window.
Nick Pope, Dan Burn, Fabian Schar and Mark Gillespie are also currently due to be out of contract in 2027, although Burn’s deal is understood to include an extension option.
For now, Newcastle remain publicly relaxed over Willock. But Besiktas have made it abundantly clear they are waiting to strike.