---
title: "Newcastle United: Mark Douglas claims Joe Willock now keen on move"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/joe-willock-arsenal-premier-league-7/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Clancy"
section: "Newcastle United"
published: "2021-07-31T18:10:48Z"
modified: "2021-07-31T18:10:48Z"
---

# Newcastle United: Mark Douglas claims Joe Willock now keen on move

**Mark Douglas has claimed that Joe Willock is now keen on a move to Newcastle United before the summer transfer window shuts.**

### The Lowdown: Willock wanted

As quoted by the [Evening Standard](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/joe-willock-arsenal-fc-transfer-news-newcastle-steve-bruce-b936802.html) back in May, Steve Bruce has admitted that he would ‘love’ to sign Willock on a permanent deal from Arsenal, given just how successful his loan spell was at St. James’ Park in the 2020/21 season.

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The central midfield player scored no fewer than eight goals in 14 matches in total in the Premier League while playing in the North East ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/joe-willock/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/340329/plus/0?saison=2020&verein=762&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=)), and thus played a big part in getting them away from the relegation zone.

### The Latest: Douglas on Willock

Writing in his latest piece for [The Chronicle](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/revealed-joe-willock-retains-newcastle-21190323), Douglas has claimed that the Tyneside club is the ‘preferred option’ for Willock should he able to leave the Emirates Stadium.

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The Englishman is their ‘priority target’, and is ‘keen’ on a move back to the Magpies, so that he can give himself a better chance of being picked for England’s squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, should Gareth Southgate’s team make it through qualifying of course.

### The Verdict: Sign

It is certainly a no-brainer to try and sign Willock permanently after the impact that he made on Tyneside.

Alan Shearer described the 21-year-old as [‘brilliant’](https://thisisfutbol.com/2021/05/blogs/premier-league/newcastle-united-premier-league/newcastle-united-shearer-praises-willock-nufc-newsnow/) during his loan spell, which is such high praise from a decorated NUFC legend, and Willock will be eager to carry on where he left off.

Nonetheless, with [no new signings](https://www.themag.co.uk/2021/07/newcastle-united-proudly-stand-alone-only-premier-league-club-not-to-make-a-signing-so-far-this-window/) made so far in this window, it would certainly get the fans on board with the new 2021/22 Premier League season only a couple of weeks away.

[***In other news, find out what definitive takeover claim has been made here!***](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/takeover-news-kieran-maguire/)