Crystal Palace eye Newcastle midfielder as transfer opportunity emerges | OneFootball

Crystal Palace Show Interest in Willock Amid Uncertain Newcastle Future

Newcastle midfielder linked with summer exit as transfer window approaches

As Newcastle United enter a pivotal summer of rebuilding, one player whose future has quietly slipped into uncertainty is Joe Willock. According to The Chronicle, the 25-year-old midfielder has emerged as a potential target for Crystal Palace, with internal recommendations reportedly made to Eagles chairman Steve Parish ahead of the summer window.

Photo IMAGO

It’s a development that underscores how finely balanced Willock’s position has become under Eddie Howe. Injuries and inconsistent form have left him on the fringes of Newcastle’s midfield, and while the club are in desperate need of squad depth, Willock has yet to consistently prove himself as integral to that evolution.

Struggles for rhythm amid fierce competition

Willock’s season has been disjointed — a campaign characterised more by frustration than impact. Though his technical quality and off-the-ball movement remain evident, a persistent run of fitness setbacks has seen him fall behind in the pecking order. Joelinton’s injury has offered a sliver of opportunity, but the sense is that Willock remains a peripheral figure.

Photo: IMAGO

“I do feel for Joe Willock,” said Andrew Musgrove on The Everything is Black and White Podcast. “There’s clearly a talent there… but it does feel now or never, doesn’t it?”

The podcast also reported that Palace’s transfer team believe they could secure a deal for Willock this summer. Whether that results in a formal approach remains to be seen, but it’s indicative of the player’s uncertain standing at St James’ Park.

Newcastle planning summer reshuffle

With Eddie Howe prioritising a winger, a right-sided centre-back and an additional forward to relieve the burden on Alexander Isak, Willock may become a casualty of Newcastle’s shifting tactical needs. The ambition to challenge on multiple fronts next season demands a deep and dependable squad, and those who can’t maintain consistency may find themselves vulnerable.

The club’s patience with Willock has not run out, but with others now thriving in central roles, the time to make an impact is narrowing.

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Willock’s situation will provoke mixed emotions amongst the fanbase. On one hand, they want it to work, not just because of his age and potential, but because they’ve seen him change games in black and white. On the other hand, it’s hard to deny the current reality: Willock hasn’t delivered often enough this season.

Injuries have certainly played a part, but so too has the sheer competition in midfield. With players like Bruno Guimarães, Sean Longstaff, and even the improving Elliot Anderson showing more consistency, Willock looks like a luxury the squad can’t afford, particularly with Europe potentially on the horizon.

That said, selling him now feels like a risk. If Newcastle do let him go — especially to a Premier League rival like Palace — it could come back to bite. The technical quality, the timing of his runs, the knack for late goals — those qualities don’t just disappear.

Ideally, he gets a run of games and proves his value in the final stretch of the season. But if not, fans will want to know that any funds raised are directly reinvested into the squad to bolster the push for top-four stability. Willock’s next few weeks may well define whether he’s part of that journey.