Besiktas prepare £8.5m Joe Willock bid as Newcastle face transfer dilemma

Besiktas are reportedly preparing a €10m (£8.5m) offer for Newcastle United midfielder Joe Willock ahead of the January transfer window, as the Turkish giants step up their efforts to bring him to Istanbul.

The 27-year-old was a major target for the Super Lig club during the summer, but after failing to agree a deal, they are now preparing a fresh approach with his Newcastle contract entering its final months.

Besiktas ready £8.5m offer for Willock

According to Turkish outlet Aksdam, Besiktas are weighing up a €10m (£8.5m) bid for Willock when the January window opens.

The Turkish side previously offered close to €18m for the former Arsenal midfielder during the summer, but Newcastle opted to keep him after Matthias Jaissle arrived at St James’ Park and made it clear he wanted him in his plans.

Besiktas manager Vincenzo Italiano remains keen to bring Willock to Turkey, with the club now looking to take advantage of his contract situation.

Willock’s current deal expires at the end of the 2026/27 season, meaning he will be able to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with clubs outside England from January if he has not signed an extension.

That leaves Newcastle with a decision to make. We could look to agree fresh terms with the midfielder, accept a January fee or risk losing him for nothing next summer.

This was the risk of keeping Willock with 12 months left

There is a wider question for Newcastle here, and one that comes with the territory when deciding not to sell a player entering the final year of his contract.

By keeping Willock last summer, we retained a midfielder who Matthias Jaissle clearly rates and who has since become a regular in our side. However, the risk is that his market value could now drop considerably, with Besiktas reportedly preparing an offer of just £8.5m; around half our previous asking price.

And the situation could become even more costly if no agreement is reached over a new contract. Willock will be able to negotiate a pre-contract with clubs outside England from January, potentially leaving Newcastle facing the prospect of losing him for nothing when his deal expires next summer.

Keeping him has brought benefits on the pitch, particularly with Jaissle now getting more out of the midfielder, who has four goal involvemnts in 11 games so far this season. But this is the financial gamble clubs take when they turn down offers for players with only 12 months remaining on their contracts.

Newcastle may yet convince Willock to extend his stay on Tyneside, but if not, the decision to reject a bigger summer offer could leave us with a cut-price January bid, or nothing at all.