TRANSFER SWAP: PALACE EYES JOE WILLOCK, NEWCASTLE PLOTS KEES SMIT
Crystal Palace are considering a January bid for Newcastle midfielder Joe Willock, whose role has diminished at St James' Park.
Crystal Palace is thinking about making a move for Newcastle United midfielder Joe Willock in January.
Willock's spot in the Newcastle lineup has slipped in the past year. He hasn't been able to play as well as he did two years ago, when he helped the team reach the Champions League under Eddie Howe.
Injuries bothered the 26-year-old last season, and he didn't make a big impact when he had the chance to play. After Jacob Ramsey came from Aston Villa this summer, Willock seemed to be Newcastle's sixth choice for midfield.
This makes Palace think they might be able to sign the former England player and bring him back to London in January. Newcastle paid about £21m for Willock and would want to get that money back. This would improve their financial situation, since he’s been at the club for a while.
Howe might he have different plans? The Newcastle manager doesn't like to lose players mid-season and surprisingly started Willock in the 2-1 Champions League loss to Marseille on Tuesday night.
Newcastle has tough choices to make. They want to sign AZ Alkmaar’s Kees Smit in January and believe the 19-year-old is interested.
Smit, who many big European clubs are watching, will only move to Newcastle if he gets regular playing time and the club can afford the deal in January.
This might convince Howe to let Willock go if they get a good offer in January.
Willock played his best in months, displaying the energy and ball skills that made him popular.
He helped set up Harvey Barnes’ early goal and almost had an assist when he ran up the field and crossed to Anthony Gordon. Gordon missed the chance, but it showed how good Willock can be.
Now, there might be a reason to give him a run in the team, as Ramsey is having trouble adjusting to Newcastle after his summer move.
When Willock is at his best, Newcastle is better. He brings different things to the midfield, has an eye for goal, and is fast with the ball.
But for the past year and a half, he’s struggled with his fitness and performance. He seems to be in better shape this season, and his game against Marseille showed what he can do.
Willock could keep his place in the team against Everton after his performance in Europe, and Howe won’t want to lose him.
But Newcastle has to make tough choices as they get better and improve the squad. If they want to sign Smit in January, they might need to sell Willock to pay for the move and make room in the squad.
Newcastle has six central midfield players competing for three spots, and Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, and Joelinton are still the first choices, despite their inconsistency this season.
If Smit is going to St. James’ Park, the deal probably has to happen in January. If Newcastle waits until the summer, there will likely be a lot of competition for him.
This is maybe why Willock would consider a move now.
Signed by Steve Bruce in 2021 after a good loan from Arsenal, the player’s contract ends in 2027, and he probably won’t sign another if he’s not playing often.
Newcastle knows that now might be the time to sell him to get a good price.
Newcastle needs to improve its squad. The club wants to lower the average age of the squad, as some of Howe’s key players are getting close to or past 30.
Willock has been good for Newcastle and might still have a role in the next few months. But he’s entering his prime and doesn’t want to be a backup player, only coming off the bench occasionally.
EDDIE HOWE CONFIRMS NEWCASTLE LINEUP SHIFTS ARE PART OF A MAJOR FUTURE STRATEGY
Eddie Howe confirms he is picking Newcastle lineups with next season in mind, trialling players like Ramsey and Woltemade early.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe isn’t pretending he’s already thinking about next season. People have been saying Kieran Trippier is close to triggering a payment if he plays more games, so that might influence whether he features again before the season ends. But Howe brushed that off and said he’s making his decisions purely for football reasons.
Talking to reporters at the City Ground about why Anthony Gordon was missing, Howe admitted he’s picking his lineup with the future in mind. Later, in his press conference, he went into more detail about focusing on what comes next at St James’ Park.
"We’re definitely looking ahead," Howe said. "You can see it in some of the choices I’m making with the team. I want to get a look at some players and see how they might grow into the squad."
One of those players is Jacob Ramsey, who came off the bench, set up Harvey Barnes with a great pass, and really changed the game. "I thought Jacob Ramsey was brilliant when he came on against Forest. He really made a difference, and so did Harvey. It’s good to see players taking their chances," Howe said.
He added, "We have to be thinking about the future now and what the team’s going to look like next year. That’s our responsibility at this point."
Before the match, Howe surprised a lot of fans by starting Lewis Hall at right-back, Nick Woltemade in midfield, and pushing Joelinton further forward than usual. Again, Howe explained he wants to see what players can do in different positions.
"It wasn’t some huge change from Brighton; we kept the same shape," Howe said. "But for Nick, this was only one of a few times he’s started in that role for us. He played alongside Will, and they haven’t had much time together either.
"There were positives for Nick, but he wasn’t involved as much as we wanted in the first half. We still need to see his best on the ball. In the second half, though, I thought we got better as a team. We attacked more and looked like a real threat as the match wore on."
MAGPIES EYE £1M BARGAIN TIAGO GABRIEL TO SOLVE GROWING DEFENSIVE INJURY CRISIS
Newcastle are leading the race against Juventus for Tiago Gabriel, the 21-year-old Serie A defensive sensation.
Newcastle United appear to be keeping an eye on Lecce’s young defender Tiago Gabriel as they consider potential options for the summer transfer window.
With Fabian Schar’s contract due to expire at the end of June, the Magpies are preparing for the possibility of his departure. Although an extension is still on the table, Schar has been sidelined since early January because of an ankle injury and doesn't seem close to making a comeback.
At 21, Gabriel has featured 36 times across all competitions this season for Lecce, who are currently four points clear of the Serie A relegation zone. Newcastle’s recruitment team is among those following his development, seemingly interested in exploring a move once the transfer window opens.
Back in December, reports surfaced that both West Ham and Juventus were also tracking Gabriel’s progress. The young defender, who came through Sporting CP’s academy, has had a strong season and will enter the final year of his contract this summer.
Gabriel transferred to Lecce last January for slightly over £1 million, moving from Portuguese club Estrela Amadora. Should he leave this summer, a significantly higher fee might be expected, reflecting his rise in form.
Before joining Estrela Amadora, Gabriel had been part of Setúbal's academy after leaving Sporting in 2020. His performances have earned him regular appearances for Portugal’s Under-21 side, and senior international opportunities may not be far off.
A switch to the Premier League could potentially boost his profile substantially, but he will likely weigh his options with some care.
According to O Jogo, Newcastle continue to monitor his situation keenly as interest around the defender grows.
Regarding Fabian Schar’s future, things remain uncertain even with just weeks left on his current deal. While Kieran Trippier has been publicly confirmed to be leaving upon contract expiration, no similar announcement has come for Schar.
Last week, Howe commented on the defender’s status, noting that no definitive decision has been made yet. He emphasised Schar’s value to the team, pointing out his unique role as a ball-playing defender and his versatility in various defensive setups.
Schar’s influence on the pitch and experience are clearly appreciated, and the club hopes he can regain full fitness before the season concludes. As for any new contract talks, Howe suggested it’s a matter of waiting to see how things unfold.
