Beşiktaş have made Newcastle United midfielder Joe Willock a transfer target before the window closes, with head coach Vincenzo Italiano pushing the board to secure the 26-year-old’s signature, sources have told Turkish-Football.
Following Italiano’s recent press conference where he publicly outlined his requirement for a dynamic, box-to-box midfielder to complete his squad, reports in Türkiye have confirmed that Willock is the primary target behind the Italian manager’s comments.
Negotiations Over Valuation Gap
While Beşiktaş have prioritized the former Arsenal player to reinforce their engine room, negotiations with Premier League side Newcastle United remain ongoing regarding the final transfer fee:
Willock’s athletic box-to-box style and pressing capability are seen as the ideal fit to provide energy and verticality in Italiano’s tactical system.
Newcastle initially set an asking price of €25 million. However, Beşiktaş are holding firm with an offer around €12 million as they attempt to bring the English club’s valuation down.
Entering the final year of his contract at St James’ Park, the Black Eagles hope Newcastle’s desire to avoid losing Willock on a free transfer next summer will force a compromise.
Key Days Ahead for Black Eagles
With Willock reportedly receptive to a move to Istanbul for guaranteed starting minutes, the Beşiktaş management is working to narrow the gap in fee structure through add-ons and bonus clauses to finalize the transfer before the window closes.
The Black Eagles have got off to a strong start this season having won six games played in all competitions, scoring nine times and not coneding once.
