---
title: "Exclusive: Steve Howey on Jetro Willems’ potential return to Newcastle United"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/exclusive-steve-howey-on-jetro-willems-potential-return-to-newcastle-united-e147/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Danny Rust"
section: "Exclusive"
published: "2021-07-07T06:09:20Z"
modified: "2021-07-07T06:09:20Z"
---

# Exclusive: Steve Howey on Jetro Willems’ potential return to Newcastle United

**Steve Howey has warned Newcastle United to be cautious when looking to seal a fan favourite’s return to the club.**

Jetro Willems is a free agent after [turning down](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jetro-willems-rejects-eintracht-frankfurt-19414489) a new deal with German side Eintracht Frankfurt.

The left-back previously enjoyed a season-long loan on Tyneside and quickly became a firm favourite among the Toon Army.

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Willems, 27, made [20 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jetro-willems/leistungsdaten/spieler/146258/plus/0?saison=2019) during his time with the Magpies and scored three goals.

However, he has opted to move on from Frankfurt after failing to make a single appearance [last season](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jetro-willems/leistungsdaten/spieler/146258/plus/0?saison=2020).

The former Netherlands international is believed to be [holding out](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jetro-willems-exclusive-dream-newcastle-20757925) for a move back to St James’ Park, where he struck up a good relationship with team-mate Allan Saint-Maximin both on and off the pitch.

Steve Bruce is looking to improve his options ahead of a third season at the helm but Howey, who was on Newcastle’s books for more than a decade during his playing days, has warned Willems may not be the perfect financial option.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”355629″\]

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, Howey said: *“It could be seen as a no-brainer but sometimes players and their agents think because you’re not paying a transfer fee, the wages should go up. I think parties involved have got to be sensible about it.*

*“Newcastle can’t be a club trying to get a player for nothing and therefore giving him nothing weekly wage-wise. By the same token, you don’t want a player saying you’re getting me for nothing so I want astronomical wages.”*