Joe Willock is not close to signing a new deal at Newcastle United despite head coach Matthias Jaissle admitting he is relaxed about the situation.
The midfielder, who has scored three goals already this season, is out of contract next summer and free to enter a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from January. After missing out on signing Willock in the summer, Turkish club Besiktas are ready to pounce come the new year.
Such an agreement would see the 27-year-old leave Newcastle on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Lewis Hall of Newcastle United celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with Joe Willock during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Newcastle United and Hull City at St James' Park on September 19, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)placeholder image
Lewis Hall of Newcastle United celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with Joe Willock during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Newcastle United and Hull City at St James' Park on September 19, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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 Gazette has launched a WhatsApp NUFC channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates directly to your phone.Simply click this linkto join our NUFC WhatsApp channel.
And club president Serdal Adali has not been shy in declaring his intentions for the Magpies midfielder.
Speaking to the Turkish media during the recent international break, the Besiktas supremo 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, 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.”
He later added: “I remain insistent on Willock. I will go and speak with Newcastle again during the mid-season window. If it works out, he is the target.”
Subscribe to our Newcastle United newsletter for all the news straight to your inbox
Joe Willock scores against Hull City.placeholder image
Joe Willock scores against Hull City. | Getty Images
NUFC’s stance on Joe Willock
Newcastle have the power to end Besiktas’ pursuit by agreeing a new deal with Willock to keep him at St James’ Park beyond the 2026/27 campaign. But, as per Mail Online, such a deal has not been forthcoming, with just two-and-a-half months until the January window opens.
But Newcastle head coach Jaissle appears relaxed about the situation.
When asked about the comments from the Besiktas president, Jaissle 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.”
When asked about wanting to resolve Willock’s future, Jaissle added: “Yeah, you can definitely imagine that. How highly I'm talking about him.
“So there's not a worry from our side.”
It comes amid claims that Jacob Murphy, another player subject to summer transfer interest and out of contract at the end of the season, is close to agreeing a new deal.
Newcastle rejected a £15million bid from Nottingham Forest for Murphy late in the summer transfer window. After Murphy and Willock, Nick Pope, Dan Burn, Fabian Schar and Mark Gillespie are also out of contract in 2027 though Burn is understood to have an extension option in his deal.